Bureau of the Royal Household

Name of the agency in charge of all administrative and ceremonial responsibilities of the institute of the monarchy, i.e. the King and other members of the royal family, as well as for the promotion and maintenance of the different royal palaces, and the monarchy's household, properties and finances, some of it in collaboration with the Crown Property Bureau. The Bureau is not part of the government and all its staff are appointed by the King personally. It may hance also provide official announcements on behalf of the monarch. In addition, and often in cooperation with other ministries, departments or governmental bodies, such as the Royal Aide-De-Camp Department or Krom Racha Ongkharak (กรมราชองครักษ์), the Royal Guards or Thahaan Raksah Phra Ong (ทหารรักษาพระองค์ - fig.), and the Royal Palace Police or Tamruat Racha Samnak (ตำรวจราชสำนัก), it may also be involved in the protection and security of the royals, certain royal projects, the planning and execution of domestic and overseas travels, and royal funerals. The Bureau of the Royal Household is known in Thai as samnak phra rachawang (สำนักพระราชวัง). It has an office within the compound of the Grand Palace (map - fig.), as well as within the compound of Sanam Seua Pah (สนามเสือป่า), i.e. the ‘Field of the Wild Tiger’ in Bangkok's Dusit area, opposite of Wat Benjamabophit (fig.) and adjacent to the office building of the Royal Society of Thailand (fig.). Though a similar agency, headed by a Chamberlain, already existed in the Ayutthaya Period, the current Bureau was established only in 1942 and in 2015 reportedly had an annual budget of 3.327 billion baht. The circular seal used in the period of the Chamberlain consists of an image of Shiva riding on the back of his bull Nonthi, and some decorative kranok motifs, while the current emblem of the Bureau of the Royal Household is known as the seal of the Great Crown, i.e. a chadah-like royal crown, with a radiant tip spreading beams of light, and with a yan-sign at its centre. See MAP. 回