Thai prince appears in public after long absence

BANGKOK, July 27 (Reuters) Thailand's heir apparent, Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn Mahidol, appeared in public today after a month-long stint away from the domestic spotlight during a private trip to Europe. The prince, who turns 55 tomorrow, arrived at Bangkok's Kasetsart University with his two-year-old son, Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti, and consort, Princess Srirasm, who was receiving a Masters Degree in Domestic Science.

The prince, a qualified pilot, flew a commercial aircraft to Bangkok from Dubai yesterday with a stopover in India's Chennai, Matichon newspaper reported in a rare disclosure of the prince's movements.

Maha Vajiralongkorn is the only son among the four children of revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world's longest reigning monarch. He has been on the throne for 61 years and commands huge respect from the country's 65 million people.

Born and educated at a primary school in Bangkok, the Crown Prince attended a secondary school in England and then a military cadet academy in Australia.

REUTERS GT HT1558