Newly elected Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the daughter of former leader Thaksin, left notable footprints in Hong Kong, including hosting her high-profile wedding at one of the city’s upscale hotels five years ago. Paetongtarn’s victory marked the Shinawatra clan’s return to power in Thailand. Her billionaire father Thaksin was ousted in a military coup in 2006 and spent 15 years in self-imposed exile.
She made waves in Hong Kong in March 2019 when she tied the knot with Pidok Sooksawas, a pilot by training, at the luxurious Rosewood Hong Kong, complete with a lavish banquet. Thai media reported she held shares in the Rosewood Hotel in Bangkok. The banquet was reportedly attended by about 1,000 celebrities and dignitaries, including Thaksin, Yingluck and Thai Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya, the elder sister of King Vajiralongkorn.
Photos shared on social media showed guests including George Yeo, chairman of the Kerry Logistics Network and a former foreign minister of Singapore; American academic and writer Tom Plate; and Jaesen Ng, who owns a hawker stall in Singapore called Thaksin Beef Noodle. The grand ballroom, where the banquet was held, was adorned with flowers, with translucent and gold streamers draped from the ceiling. A large photo of the bride and groom spanned an entire wall.
Security at the hotel was tight, with staff stationed throughout the building to ensure only invited guests entered the venue. In his speech, Thaksin, who was in self-exil.