The Élysée Palace, in Paris’s 8th arrondissement, has been the setting for several high-profile state visits in recent days. Just hours after welcoming the Sultan of Oman, French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron hosted a historic state banquet for Thailand’s royal family.
King Rama X and Queen Suthida, accompanied by Princess Sirivannavari, received an official welcome at the French presidential palace. Throughout the evening, Queen Suthida and Brigitte Macron shared several warm exchanges, highlighting the cordial relationship between the two delegations. The visit also returns Thailand’s monarchy to the forefront of the international stage.
© AFP via Getty ImagesA Visit of Historic Significance
On Sunday, June 28, Maha Vajiralongkorn, King Rama X, and Queen Suthida, joined by Princess Sirivannavari, arrived under heavy police escort to begin the Thai monarch’s second state visit since ascending the throne.
© Corbis via Getty ImagesThe visit returns the gesture following Emmanuel Macron’s 2022 trip to Thailand and commemorates the 170th anniversary of diplomatic relations between France and Thailand. To mark the milestone, the historic halls of the Élysée Palace were prepared to welcome the king, queen, and members of the Thai royal family. Following the official arrival ceremony, the palace hosted an elegant state banquet that capped off an evening centered on diplomacy.
© POOL/AFP via Getty ImagesOne of the evening’s most talked-about moments belonged to Princess Sirivannavari. As the procession, led by King Rama X, Queen Suthida, Emmanuel Macron, and Brigitte Macron, made its way through the palace, the princess briefly paused to pose for photographers after sharing a smile with her father.
© Corbis via Getty ImagesThe spontaneous moment briefly broke with the strict protocol traditionally associated with Thailand’s royal court and reflected the princess’s comfort in the public eye. Sirivannavari is active on Instagram, where she has nearly 300,000 followers and occasionally offers personal glimpses into royal family life.
© AFP via Getty ImagesStill, it was Queen Suthida who stole the spotlight. She dazzled in an elegant ensemble inspired by traditional Thai dress, paired with a spectacular diamond necklace that many observers viewed as a tribute to Queen Mother Sirikit. Its striking resemblance to the historic diamond rivière necklace Sirikit wore on numerous state visits did not go unnoticed.
© Anadolu via Getty ImagesQueen Suthida‘s Royal Jewelry Collection
Queen Suthida has inherited some of the Chakri dynasty’s most iconic jewels, a collection once worn by Queen Sirikit and reserved for the grandest state occasions.
© Getty ImagesAmong its highlights is the historic diamond rivière necklace, originally created for Queen Saovabha Phongsri and revived by Queen Sirikit in the 1960s. The royal collection also includes the spectacular Van Cleef & Arpels sapphire parure Queen Suthida wore for the coronation of King Charles III.
© UK Press via Getty ImagesOther notable pieces include the historic Hongsa brooches, widely attributed to the House of Fabergé, which she wore to the state banquet in Bhutan. Together, these heirlooms symbolize not only exceptional craftsmanship but also the enduring legacy and continuity of Thailand’s monarchy.
It’s no coincidence that the queen selected one of the collection’s most striking pieces for the occasion. The four-day state visit commemorates the 170th anniversary of diplomatic relations between France and Thailand.
© Anadolu via Getty ImagesFollowing the state banquet at the Élysée Palace, the royal couple will visit several of Paris’s best-known landmarks before concluding their trip in Toulouse with a tour of Airbus facilities, further reinforcing the ties between the two countries.
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