The estranged heir to Thailand’s royal family could be prevented from taking the throne after marrying an American woman.
According to The daily beast, Vacharaesorn Vivacharawongse, 42, is married to US citizen Elisa Garafano, and the couple have two children.
Vivacharawongse is the estranged son of Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn and was exiled abroad along with his three brothers after the then Crown Prince announced a divorce between their mother.
Marriage to a foreign citizen automatically precludes accession to the throne in Thailand, with the marriage creating a potential succession crisis for the family.
Vivacharawongse has reportedly told close friends that he is splitting with Garafano, a White Plains civil servant, which would open the door for him to ascend the throne.
Vacharaesorn Vivacharawongse, 42, is married to US citizen Elise Garafano, and the couple has two children
Vivacharawongse has reportedly told close friends that he is splitting up with Garafano (pictured)
Marriage to a foreign citizen automatically precludes accession to the throne in Thailand, with the marriage creating a potential succession crisis for the family. Vivacharawongse is seen here with Mark Wahlberg
Vacharaesorn, who grew up in the United States, works as a lawyer in New York and speaks English and French
Garafano has filed for divorce, which is currently under seal, and sources told the newspaper that she has suspended proceedings and told her allies that they are not divorced.
He reportedly told close sources that she wanted to be recognized along with their children.
A source told the Daily Beast: “Vach is still married to Elisa and they still live together, but he is very keen to keep that fact, and the fact of their children, a secret because of the impact it would have on his ambition to conquer the throne.’
Another told the newspaper: ‘Vach and Elisa were openly married for years, but since he started vying for the throne he started trying to keep it hidden and has told people he is now divorced, even in public comments on social media.’
Vivacharawongse said he no longer lived in their home in a New York City suburb and that he knew he had a separate apartment when he was contacted by the outlet.
Public records show he still lives with his wife and children, and their stay at the property goes back nine years.
In a statement, Vach said: “I am not admitting anything. I have no further comment on the intricacies of my private life and family arrangements.
‘Not everyone is lucky enough to have an ideal family situation. I don’t live with Elisa. I still have a rental property. We have a cordial relationship and I visit the address regularly.’
Vivacharawongse (pictured with Mark Wahlberg) has reportedly told close friends he is splitting up with Garafano, but divorce proceedings have reportedly been put on hold
Vivacharawongse (pictured with actress Gwyneth Paltrow) said he was no longer living in their home in a New York City suburb and that he knew he had a separate apartment
After his exile with his brothers, Vivacharawongse’s half-sister from the king’s next marriage, Princess Bajrakitiyabha, was installed as heir apparent.
In December 2022, Bajrakitiyabha collapsed due to cardiac arrhythmia, which the royal palace later said was the result of a mycoplasma infection.
Bajrakitiyabha is unconscious and has been on a ventilator since then. He is believed to be in an irreversible coma.
After three decades away from his homeland, Vivacharawongse next appeared in Thailand and quickly became known as the new heir apparent.
Vivacharawongse’s marriage has not been reported in Thai media coverage because it is illegal to criticize the country’s monarchy.
According to the Daily Beast, Vivacharawongse is also being sued for $94,000 in unpaid credit charges by American Express.
The outlet also added that he is being sued for $1.88 million in a dispute with a Canadian law firm.
If he were to take the throne of Thailand, he would also rake in his father’s astonishing $40 billion fortune.
On his social media pages, Vivacharawongse has shared images of himself with celebrities like Mark Wahlberg, Gwyneth Paltrow and Rob Lowe.
It would not be the first time that a member of the Thai royal family has been stripped of his titles after marrying an American.
The current king’s older sister, Ubolratana, was stripped of her titles by her father, King Bhumibol, in 1972 after marrying an American she met while studying at MIT.