Thai Queen to compete at SEA Games

The Games' organizing committee has confirmed that the queen will compete in the keelboat SSL47 event, scheduled from Dec. 15–18 in Pattaya, Chonburi Province, with the goal of securing a gold medal.

Alongside host Thailand, teams from Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Myanmar will also take part.

The SSL47 class uses a 47-foot (about 14-meter) keelboat that demands advanced technique, strength, precision, and seamless teamwork to handle varying wind and wave conditions.

This is one of the newly added sailing events at this year's SEA Games.

Queen Suthida, 47, married King Maha Vajiralongkorn in 2019.

She holds a degree in Communication Arts from Assumption University in Bangkok and previously worked as a Thai Airways flight attendant. She joined the Thai military in 2010, later commanding the King’s Guard Special Forces unit, and currently holds the rank of general.

Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn (L) and Queen Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshana during a state visit to China on Nov. 14, 2025. Photo by Reuters

Her training sessions with the national sailing team on Nov. 19 and 20 attracted wide attention online. On Dec. 3, she took part in the 37th Phuket King’s Cup Regatta.

Within the team, Queen Suthida often serves as navigator, a role aligned with her expertise in electronic positioning -- covering weather forecasting, navigation systems, and wind analysis. The navigator is considered crucial for guiding the boat safely and accurately amid constantly shifting conditions.

Beyond sailing, the queen is active in several sports, including running. On Nov. 30, she completed the 21 km half marathon at the Amazing Thailand Marathon in Bangkok in 2 hours, 13 minutes, and 40 seconds. Kenyan long-distance legend Eliud Kipchoge joined her for the race.

"Running on the streets of Bangkok at night is magical, and it’s even more special to run with Queen Suthida," Kipchoge wrote on social media. "This is a moment I will keep forever in my heart."

The SEA Games open on Dec. 9 and run until Dec. 20 in Bangkok and the nearby coastal province of Chonburi, with thousands of athletes from 11 Southeast Asian countries competing in events ranging from football and fencing to skateboarding, sailing and combat sports.