Thailand Denies French President Macron Knelt Before King

Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has refuted claims that French President Emmanuel Macron knelt before King Maha Vajiralongkorn during the monarch's state visit to Paris. The allegations surfaced following the spread of a digitally manipulated image on social media platforms.

The state visit, marking the 170th anniversary of diplomatic relations between France and Thailand, was the first official trip by a Thai king to France since 1960. During a state banquet at the presidential palace, Macron presented the highest French honor, the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour, to the 73-year-old King Maha Vajiralongkorn. Queen Suthida also received the Grand Cross of the National Order of Merit.

An image circulating widely online in Thailand appeared to show Macron kneeling as he presented the award. One Facebook post featuring the image garnered significant attention, shared by a page known for pro-military and nationalist content. A comment on the post expressed joy and deep emotion, stating, "I am very happy and truly touched that France, a country much richer and more developed than ours, still gives such high honor to our country."

However, a Thai Foreign Ministry official clarified that the image was AI-generated. "There is no evidence that Emmanuel Macron knelt while presenting the royal decoration," the official told AFP, debunking the viral misinformation.