Queen Suthida has been absent from public view for more than a month, causing supporters to worry, while Prince Sineenat increasingly has a prominent role.

Information about the Thai royal family is limited because they are protected by anti-military laws - royal critics face sentences of up to 15 years in prison.

The palace also did not move to quell online rumors that Suthida may suffer the same fate as the three ex-wives of King Maha Vajiralongkorn, who have to live in exile or have a difficult life after being deposed.

Analysts of the Thai monarchy, including Scottish journalist Andrew MacGregor Marshall and Kyoto University scholar Pavin Chachavalpongpun, have noted Queen Suthida's absence occurred at the same time the King strengthened

Ms. Sineenat was ordained a noble lady in July 2019 but was deposed three months later on the grounds of "unfaithfulness" and "ambition" to take the throne of Queen Suthida.

Marshall cites some well-known sources as saying King Vajiralongkorn originally planned to ordain Sineenat as second queen on January 26 to celebrate her birthday.

"But the ordination was delayed amid fierce opposition from the king's sister (Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn) and his daughters (Princesses Bajrakitiyabha and Sirivannavari). They would be dropped one rank in the rank.

Unofficial YouTube channels focused on Thai royal news discussed Queen Suthida's absence, their videos receiving over two million views within a few days.

Suthida's last public appearance was on December 28, 2020, when she and the King hosted the 18th-century King Taksin memorial event in Bangkok.

Since the King returned from Germany in October 2020, Suthida has accompanied him at most of the official events in the Thai capital, as well as short meetings with supporters held as the movement

The trip with Prince Sineenat surprised the public, because there was no Thai monarch for such a prince to appear so much.

MacGregor Marshall said that according to senior royal aides, "many of the royal trustees are concerned about the chaos caused by the king's personal life".

However, MacGregor Marshall thinks it is not uncommon for Mr. Vajiralongkorn and Ms. Suthida not to be together, which has happened in recent years.

"For the past few years, Mr. Vajiralongkorn has been living at the Grand Hotel Sonnenbichl in Bavaria, with Sineenat and the rest of the harem, while Ms. Suthida lived at Hotel Waldegg in the Swiss town of Engelberg," MacGregor Marshall said.

Pavin points to another problem that could have been the reason for Suthida's absence.

According to Pavin, Queen Suthida's loyalists may have been involved in the leaked photos and her current absence could be the result of that destructive scheme.

"It was most likely a charge against her and possibly the reason for her absence," Pavin said.

While Suthida was absent, Sineenat took on several roles and duties that previously belonged to the Queen.

This time, Ms. Suthida's name was not mentioned when the royal gazette reported on the project.

"Obviously Mrs Sineenat is in grace," said Pavin.

Anything can happen during the reign of King Vajiralongkorn, Pavin argues.