Royal Security Command

The Royal Security Command (Thai: หน่วยบัญชาการถวายความปลอดภัยรักษาพระองค์) is the king of Thailand's military household and is part of Thailand's royal court administration. It exercises command and control over the military units that are engaged full-time in the protection and guarding of the king and his family as well as the various Royal palaces of Thailand.

Royal Security Command
หน่วยบัญชาการถวายความปลอดภัยรักษาพระองค์
Department overview
Formed9 January 1992 (1992-01-09)
JurisdictionThailand
HeadquartersThawi Watthana Palace, Bangkok, Thailand
Department executives
Websitewww.royaloffice.th/en/about-royal-office/royal-security/

The command is responsible for the planning, direction and coordination of the security detachments of the king, queen, heir-apparent and other members of the Thai royal family. It is also responsible for the security of the monarch's representatives and visitors. The security and safety of the king, his family and Royal palaces are the direct responsibility of the Monarch. The units and personnel of the royal security command do not form part of the regular armed forces chain of command.[1]

History
Symbol of the Royal Security Command (2014-2016)

The Royal Security Command was formerly an agency under the Office of the Supreme Commander of the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters. It was established as a King's Guard unit on 18 November 1992.[2] In 2013, the Royal Security Command became a juristic person and was put under the purview of the Ministry of Defense while retaining Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn as its commander.[3]

On 1 May 2017 the Royal Security Command was made a royal agency directly under the command of the monarchy, independent of the rest of the armed forces and the Royal Thai Government.[4]

On 30 September 2019, two infantry regiments were removed from the Royal Thai Army's chain of command and placed under the Royal Security Command. All personnel, assets and operating budgets were likewise transferred to the agency.[5] The move was prompted by the need to provide better security to the royal family, royal residences, and Foreign heads of state and other dignitaries visiting at the monarch's invitation.[5]

Organization
King Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida is the commander and deputy commander of the unit.

The Royal Security Command is divided into these agencies:

  • Office of the Commander (This office is appointed by and directly responsible to the king)
  • Office of the Royal Duty Officers
  • Office of the Aide-de-Camp
  • The King's Close Bodyguard Command (All infantry units from the Royal Thai Army are under this section of the command)
  • Office of the Royal Police Guards (This section exercises control over police units assigned to the command)

Military units

The Royal Security Command is in charge of two Infantry regiments:[5]

  • 1st Infantry Regiment, King's Close Bodyguard (Thai: มหาดเล็กราชวัลลภ; RTGS: mahat lek ratcha wanlop), 'The king's close bodyguards')
    • 1st Infantry Battalion, 1st King's Own Bodyguard Regiment
    • 2nd Infantry Battalion, 1st King's Own Bodyguard Regiment
    • 3rd Infantry Battalion, 1st King's Own Bodyguard Regiment
  • 11th Infantry Regiment, King's Close Bodyguard, (Thai: ทหารล้อมวัง; RTGS: thahan lom wang), 'The palace bodyguards')
    • 1st Infantry Battalion, 11th King's Own Bodyguard Regiment
    • 2nd Infantry Battalion, 11th King's Own Bodyguard Regiment
    • 3rd Infantry Battalion, 11th King's Own Bodyguard Regiment

Police units
  • Special Service Division Commando (SSD Commando)

See also

References
  1. "พระราชกฤษฎีกาจัดระเบียบราชการและการบริหารงานบุคคลของราชการในพระองค์ พ.ศ. 2560" (PDF). Royal Thai Government Gazette. 10 May 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 16, 2017. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
  2. "ประกาศสำนักนายกรัฐมนตรี เรื่อง พระราชทานพระบรมราชานุญาตสถาปนาหน่วยทหารเป็นหน่วยทหารรักษาพระองค์" (PDF). Royal Thai Government Gazette. 15 December 1992. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 2, 2019. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
  3. "พระราชบัญญัติระเบียบราชการกระทรวงกลาโหม (ฉบับที่ 2) พ.ศ. 2556" (PDF). Royal Thai Government Gazette. 20 November 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 4, 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
  4. "พระราชบัญญัติระเบียบบริหารราชการในพระองค์ พ.ศ. 2560" (PDF). Royal Thai Government Gazette. 1 May 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 16, 2017. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
  5. Charuvastra, Teeranai (1 October 2019). "'Emergency order' transfers army units to king's command". Khaosod English. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
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