Thailand protests: King Vajiralongkorn’s PR gambit ups stakes in war for popular support

• King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s comments over the weekend in regard to pro-democracy protesters have been cast as a bid to see who has ‘numerical legitimacy’ among Thais
• Analysts say the royal family’s public appearance, including Queen Suthida and consort Sineenat Wongvajirapakdi, underlined an unprecedented charm offensive