Eccentric Thai king Maha Vajiralongkorn returns to German exile — with 30 poodles in tow

Maha Vajiralongkorn, the king of Thailand, with his fourth wife, Queen Suthida, has spent many years in the German ski resort of Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Maha Vajiralongkorn, the king of Thailand, with his fourth wife, Queen Suthida, has spent many years in the German ski resort of Garmisch-Partenkirchen
CHALINEE THIRASUPA/REUTERS

The controversial and eccentric King of Thailand, Maha Vajiralongkorn, has returned to his self-imposed exile in southern Germany in characteristic style — by occupying the entire floor of a luxury hotel accompanied by 250 staff and 30 poodles.

After just over a year in Thailand, Vajiralongkorn was photographed by German media at a five-star hotel at Munich airport where he and his entourage appear to be serving their quarantine.

A photographer for the German tabloid Bild said that he was forced to call police after being menaced by the monarch’s Thai security guards, who demanded that he delete pictures of Vajiralongkorn. He refused.

Although the king retains the support of some Thais he is not as admired or respected as his father
Although the king retains the support of some Thais he is not as admired or respected as his father
CHALINEE THIRASUPA/REUTERS

The photographs show the king in a brown tracksuit apparently walking to the swimming pool of the Hilton Hotel where, the newspaper