Four more Thai palace officials have been fired by King Maha Vajiralongkorn, as stated in two palace announcements on Oct. 29, 2019.

Reuters reported one palace announcement as saying that two palace officials -- bedroom guards -- were fired for "extremely evil misconduct" and "adultery".

Such behaviour was a violation of a code of conduct for courtiers.

According to Reuters, a separate announcement said that two military officers were fired for being "lax" in their duty as palace guards, and "behaving unbecomingly of their ranks and titles."

All four fired palace officials have been stripped of their ranks and titles.

Spate of dismissals

This latest development followed the dismissal of six palace officials last week, as well as the demotion of Royal Consort Sineenat Wongvajirapakdi.

The 34-year-old Sineenat was dismissed for “disloyalty to the King”, and “acting against the appointment of Queen (Suthida).

Less than three months prior, she had been bestowed with the rank of “Chao Khun Phra” or royal noble consort.

According to the BBC, this made her the first royal consort in almost a century.

Assertive constitutional monarch

Al Jazeera reported that Thailand's royal family is protected by a strongly-enforced lese majeste law, making scrutiny of the monarchy almost impossible.

However, the spate of palace dismissals has underlined the new king's reputation for being a more assertive constitutional monarch.

Since taking the throne following the death of his father, Bhumibol Adulyadej in 2016, King Vajiralongkorn has taken more direct control of royal affairs and the crown's wealth.

He also transferred two military units from the army to his personal control.

According to Al Jazeera, the 67-year-old king's father was widely revered by Thais, and seen as a figure of moral authority.

Yet, having spent much of his time abroad before ascending to the throne, the new king is a more remote figure to many people.

Top image by Linh Pham via Getty Images