King Khemkhaeng and Queen Busarakham express gratitude to Yingdala, VanukuIn their own ways, the Royal Family has endeavoured to convey their gratitude toward Yingdala and Vanuku after receiving substantial support
from the two allies1 May 4754Above: Her Royal Majesty Queen Busarakham embroiders a silk garment destined for the Empress of Yingdala (left); His Royal Majesty King Khemkhaeng is photographed while deployed along
the Hanzen-Kimlien border with a firearm donated by Vanuku.⠀⠀After receiving substantial military and economic aid from Yingdala and Vanuku, the King and Queen are seeking ways by which to express their appreciation on behalf of a grateful nation. Vanuku has
sent a massive amount of military materiel at next to no cost for the Kingdom, while the Yingdalans have
provided naval vessels, aircraft, and technical expertise to the Royal Armed Forces, in addition to conducting a number of joint military exercises.
⠀⠀Speaking with
Phra Rath for just a short while, Her Royal Majesty the Queen revealed that she was hand-embroidering silk garments for the Empress of Yingdala and the Queen of Vanuku respectively. "With a heart filled with humility, I wish to convey my sincere gratitude to our two closest allies," said Her Royal Majesty. "I hope that this small and trivial gift will accomplish that aim."
⠀⠀Her Royal Majesty disclosed that she was using silk
initially gifted by His Imperial Majesty Emperor Yu Li of Yingdala during the King's state visit to that country in 4743: "I pray that [the Empress] shall not find this regifting distasteful, for I could think of no greater expression of the unity between our peoples than to embroider upon this divine fabric and share it with the two ladies."
⠀⠀Alternatively, His Royal Majesty the King has decided to deploy alongside soldiers in the Royal Army to personally train with the Yingdalan and Vanukean arms. His Royal Majesty is reportedly quite fond of the simple yet rugged Vanukean tanks, having first driven one during a military drill near the southern border with Kimlien. However, having spent his military service in the Royal Air Force, it is said that King Khemkhaeng is equally eager to train with the fighter aircrafts granted by Yingdala.
⠀⠀"His Royal Majesty wishes to express his appreciation to his brother-in-law, as well as his good friend in Vanuku, by personally training with the materiel so graciously transferred to the Royal Armed Forces," read a statement provided by Nueng Sagarik, Secretary to the Bureau of the Royal Household. "In all that he undertakes, the King acts with a singular motivation: to ensure the prosperity and security of his people."
⠀⠀Of course, the Peacock Throne acts in concert with the elected government, which has been exploring opportunities for greater economic integration with the two countries. Prime Minister Kamon Thongyai has announced a series of reforms aimed at facilitating greater protection for Yingdalan and Vanukean investors who wish to capitalize on the Kingdom's growing economy. PM Thongyai has argued vociferously on the floor of the People's House in favour of foreign direct investment from its allies, firmly rejecting any intimation that such investments jeopardize the Kingdom's economic sovereignty.
⠀⠀"His Royal Majesty and His Imperial Majesty share a familial bond!" stated the Prime Minister in a testy exchange with Opposition Leader Sanit Phamornsut (Orchid Society), "Bonds of blood cannot be trampled, nor so easily disregarded. In all that they have done, have the Yingdalans and Vanukeans not demonstrated a commitment to the security and sovereignty of Hanzen?"
⠀⠀To the Prime Minister's question, the Hanzenese people have firmly responded affirmatively. According to the latest opinion polling conducted by
Phra Rath in association with the Udon Nakhon Statistics Society, 86% of Hanzenese view Yingdala as a positive force in the world, and 78% of respondents affirming the same with regard to Vanuku.
The Phra Rath (Phra State) is a widely-circulated broadsheet newspaper in Hanzen, from a centre-left nationalist perspective.