The 36.19 billion baht for expenditures related to the monarchy accounts for just 1.04% of the total national budget of 3.48 trillion.

The 2024 budget passed its second and third reading in Parliament in late March 2024, covering October 2023 to September 2024. The delay, which caused economic concerns at the time, stemmed from the drawn-out process of forming a post-election government.

Though its share of the overall budget decreased slightly from 2023’s 1.09% of 3.18 trillion, total expenditure rose by 1.5 billion baht to 36.2 billion, the second highest in five years after 2021’s 37.2 billion baht.

Our calculations rely on the draft and supporting documents available on the Budget Bureau's website prior to the committee review, including "the white documents with red bands," which detail the vision, mission, expected outcomes, and overall benefits of budget expenditures for recipient ministries and agencies. Below are some interesting trends. 

Overview of Monarchy Budgets (2020-2024)

Progress in transparency

The "Royal Agencies," as detailed in the white document with red bands prior to committee review, still provide only limited information, spanning only 8 pages—1 page fewer than last year—despite a proposed budget of 8.478 billion baht. In comparison, agencies requesting a similar level of funding, such as the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, provide up to 366 pages of details.

While the Royal Agencies still have room for improvement, Sirikanya Tansakun, an MP from the Move Forward Party, praised their improved transparency over the past five years in parliament.

• In 2020, no explanatory documents were submitted; the Budget Bureau Director simply made a presentation without taking questions.
• In 2021, minor details were provided by the Budget Bureau Director.
• In 2023, the Royal Agencies assigned the Cabinet Secretariat to explain on their behalf for the first time, including a video on their missions and an 8-page explanatory document.
• In 2024, the Cabinet Secretariat addressed questions, submitted a 21-page explanatory document as agreed with the Budget Bureau, and included interim budget disbursement plans for 2023.

"The more open, the more transparent, the more dignity and honour it brings to His Majesty." said Sirikanya.

Sirikanya also said that the budget reduction of over 133 million baht from the previous fiscal year was due to decreased personnel expenses in the Royal Agencies. While the minority of Move Forward Party MPs on the House Budget Committee proposed budget cuts of 0.5-50%, none raised objections to Section 36 of the Budget Bill on Royal Agencies in parliament, allowing it to pass without a vote.

The budget for the Royal Agencies began at 6.39 billion baht when they were first established in 2018 and has steadily increased. Although it decreased slightly this year, funding projections for the 2027 fiscal year estimate over 9.98 billion baht.

The Royal Agencies were established during the NCPO government under the Royal Administration Act of 2017, transferring five agencies to operate under royal authority with provisions allowing them to be restructured “at His Majesty's discretion.” These agencies include:

• the Office of His Majesty’s Principal Private Secretary – previously an independent agency under the Prime Minister with department-level status.
• the Bureau of the Royal Household – previously a royal agency under the Prime Minister with ministry-level status.
• the Royal Aide-de-Camp Department – previously under the Ministry of Defence.
• the Royal Security Command – previously under the Ministry of Defence.
• the Office of Royal Court Security Office – previously under the Royal Thai Police.

In 2019, an emergency decree transferred the 1st and 11th Infantry Regiments of the King’s Guard from the Army, Armed Forces, and Ministry of Defence to the Royal Security Command. The decree later received parliamentary approval, despite the opposition questioning the urgency of using this channel.

Currently, the Royal Agencies consist of three main units: the Privy Council Office, the Bureau of the Royal Household, and the Royal Security Command. The total staff of 14,704 personnel includes 83 government officials in the Privy Council, 6,658 in the Bureau of the Royal Household, 7,943 in the Royal Security Command, and around 20 permanent employees in the Bureau of the Royal Household.

Fewer royal mentions

Some projects previously associated with the monarchy by name or purpose have lost any linkage, a development which the opposition saw as progress.

Pita Limjaroenrat, the former leader of the party, disclosed that on behalf of the Royal Agencies, the Cabinet Secretary responded to a committee member from the Move Forward Party (now the People’s Party), stating that “agencies are requested to avoid using the term ‘in Honour of the Monarchy’ when writing projects, particularly certain agencies that frequently append it to projects and items.”

Without the term, similar projects continue to serve the public interest. For example, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi’s grant for the "Project to Support the Sustainable Development of Livelihoods, Quality of Life and the Environment in Highland Communities" mirrors the 2023 grant for “Royal Projects and Royally-Initiated Projects " under "The Basic Plan for Developing and Enhancing Human Resource Potential," which had a budget of 21.55 million baht.

Similarly, the grant for the "Dental Centre and Mobile Dental Units" was previously titled the “Royal Dental Centre of HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn and Mobile Dental Units" in 2023, with a budget of 20 million baht.

Since these projects no longer reference the monarchy, we excluded them from our report’s calculations. However, there are also cases where the budget is dedicated to services directly provided to the monarchy, but revised project names make this less obvious.

For example, the Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning has a budget of 1,500 million baht for the Royal Special Activities Support Project under the strategic plan to strengthen the national institutions. In the 2024 budget draft, the term "within royal premises" was removed from the objectives, a change first implemented in 2022.

In January 2021, iLaw published a report on the monarchy's budget over the past ten years, highlighting a sharp increase in budget this particular project, which rose by 135% from 429 million baht in 2011 to 1 billion baht in 2012.

The 2012 budget document (Volume 6, Pages 222–224) listed budget items, including 40 million baht for hiring consultants for system maintenance at Amphorn Sathan Throne Hall, Dhaveevatthana Palace and His Majesty's Control Area 904, and 10 million baht for renovating a gymnasium at the Dhaveevatthana Palace Government Complex.

In 2011, notable items included 100 million baht for constructing the Pool House Bali and bathing pool at Dhaveevatthana Palace, 50 million baht for renovating the VIP Gym at the same palace, 30 million baht for hiring consultants to oversee construction at Amphorn Sathan Throne Hall, and another 30 million baht for the construction of special activities for members of the royal family.

iLaw also noted that while budget figures are clearly presented annually, detailed explanations of projects related to these budgets have been absent since the fiscal year 2015 (starting October 1, 2014). Instead, general descriptions, such as allocations for construction, consultancy fees, or support for royal special projects, have been used.

The budgets for Royal Special Activities Support Project (2012-2024)

Direct expenditures rebound

As in previous years of reporting, the budget is divided into two main parts. For the 2024 fiscal year, the budget allocation for the monarchy consists of 18.47 billion baht for direct expenditures and 17.72 billion baht for indirect expenditures.

Direct expenditures refer to services primarily benefiting the monarchy, such as security, royal buildings, state visits, transportation, the granting of royal decorations, and policies aimed at protecting national institutions.

Indirect expenditures, on the other hand, refer to social services, development programmes linked to royal initiatives, and public relations efforts honouring the monarchy to achieve the broader strategic goals of government agencies other than the monarchy itself. These programmes—such as the sufficiency economy, rehabilitation initiatives, and plant conservation—focus on public benefits while simultaneously serving as public relations for the royal family.

Typically, direct expenditures exceed indirect expenditures. In 2023, however, direct expenditures saw a significant decline, falling behind indirect expenditures for the first time in four years—coinciding with Gen Prayut’s final year in office and the general election. This anomaly was reversed in 2024, with direct expenditures once again exceeding indirect expenditures under the Pheu Thai government. 

Comparison of Direct and Indirect Expenditures (2020-2024)

Apart from the budgets for Royal Agencies and the Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning, which have already been covered, examples of direct expenditures include:

• The Royal Thai Police (RTP) has allocated a budget of 1,753.1719 million baht for the Royal Security Programme for the King and the royal family, the sole initiative in its strategic plan aimed at enhancing the security of the nation’s key institution. The programme’s performance indicators emphasize “providing security befitting royal honour and in accordance with royal intentions.” A significant performance target requires at least 4,000 police officers to complete annual training to provide security for members of the royal family in local jurisdictions.
• The Secretariat of the Prime Minister has allocated a budget in 2024 of 4,243 million baht, with nearly all—3,384 million baht—dedicated to ensuring the utmost safety for the King and royal family. A key performance indicator is providing services in a manner befitting royal dignity upon request. The largest portion of the budget is allocated for expenses related to aircraft and helicopters for royal duties, amounting to 1,817.86 million baht. Additionally, 848.94 million baht is allocated to payments for services and support from Thai Airways International Public Co., Ltd.
• The Ministry of Defence has set a budget of 1,843.43 million baht, aimed at ensuring the highest level of security and honour for the institution of the monarchy. The key objective outlined is the protection, respect, and support for the monarchy’s mission. The budget is distributed among the key units of the Ministry, including the Office of the Permanent Secretary, the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, and the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters.
• Other expenses included include Expenses for Royal Ceremonies and Important Governmental Events (33 million baht), the National Housing Authority’s Housing Project for Royal Guard Officers (6.34 million baht) and Grants for Caring for Royal Elephants by the Forest Industry Organization (8.66 million baht).

Examples of Direct Expenditures from 2020-2024 (Unit: Million Baht)

Public relations budget on the rise

The indirect expenditures for 2024 are diverse, reflecting the missions of various agencies. In this category, Royally-Initiated Projects, Royal Projects, and sufficiency economy programmes remain the largest spending items, though they have decreased from 13.36 billion baht last year to 11.40 billion baht this year.

The budget in this category is allocated to various projects, including the Central Budget Expenses for Royally-Initiated Projects (2.5 billion baht), the Royal Irrigation Department’s Royally-Initiated Project Implementation Support (2,843.47 million baht), the Department of Local Administration’s Financial Support for Royally-Initiated Public Health Projects (1,599.6 million baht), and the Special Coordinating Committee for Royally-Initiated Projects (739.45 million baht).

An interesting trend is the dramatic rise in the budget for public relations. From 299 million baht in 2022, the amount saw a dramatic increase to 1,844.9 million baht in 2023, and a staggering 4,542.66 million baht in 2024

The budget in this category is allocated to several key projects, including the Chulabhorn Royal Academy’s Royal Celebration Project for HRH Princess Chulabhorn’s 60th birthday (2,479.35 million baht), the Royally-Initiated and Royal Celebration Projects of the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Public Health(943.466 million baht), the Project to Publicize the Contributions and Agricultural Achievements of the King and the royal family of the Golden Jubilee Museum of Agriculture under the Royal Patronage of HM the King (Public Organization) (175.75 million baht), and the Project to Strengthen the Institution of the Monarchy and Enhance National Identity of the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Office of the Prime Minister (102.07 million baht).

As part of the strategic plan to strengthen the national institutions, the Ministry of Culture will also hold various activities to honour the monarchy through their agencies such as Office of the Permanent Secretary (127.46 million baht), the Department of Religious Affairs (37.33 million baht), the Fine Arts Department (5 million baht), the Department of Cultural Promotion (16.50 million baht), and the Bunditpatanasilpa Institute (3.8 million baht).

Projects under the patronage of members of the royal family received budgets at varying levels. These included:

• The TO BE NUMBER ONE project initiated by HRH Princess Ubol Ratana saw a decrease in budget compared to the previous two years with funds allocated to various agencies ranging from 0.6 million to 15 million baht. Recipients include the Department of Children and Youth, the Office of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, the Department of Provincial Administration, the Department of Probation, the Department of Juvenile Observation and Protection, the Office of the Narcotics Control Board, the Office of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour, the Office of the Basic Education Commission, and the Office of the Vocational Education Commission. Provincial offices receiving support include those in Ratchaburi, Phetchaburi, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Surat Thani, Krabi, Phang Nga, Satun, Pattani, Yala, Nakhon Phanom, Kalasin, Yasothon, Lampang, Lamphun, and Phayao.
• The Rare Plant/Plant Genetic Conservation Project under the Royal Initiative of HRH Princess Sirindhorn also saw a decrease in funding compared to the previous year. The budget is distributed across various agencies, with amounts ranging from hundreds of thousands to 74.92 million baht. The recipients include the Ministry of Defence and the Royal Thai Air Force. The largest portion of the budget is allocated to universities nationwide to support their plant conservation projects.
• The Disease-Free Animals, Save Humans from Rabies Project, initiated under the resolution of HRH Princess Chulabhorn, received an increased budget in 2024 compared to the previous year. Allocations range from hundreds of thousands to tens of millions of baht, with notable recipients including Kasetsart University (68.36 million baht), the Department of Local Administration (66 million baht) for animal registration and data collection, and the Department of Livestock Development (53.93 million baht). Additionally, as part of the project's second phase, provinces in the Southern Gulf of Thailand—Chumphon, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Surat Thani, and Songkhla—received 57.1 million baht to establish dog shelters.

Other projects by various agencies, with a total budget of 769.75 million baht, include several notable allocations:

• The Institute for the Promotion of Science and Technology Education’s budget for the Promotion of the Academic Olympiad and Development of the Science Education Foundation under the Patronage of HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana (289.3 million baht)
• The Office of the Vocational Education Commission’s grant for Chalerm Rajkumari Scholarships (68.93 million baht.)
• The Office of the Basic Education Commission’s grant for the Education of Autistic and Disabled Children under the Khun Phoom Foundation (53.3 million baht)
• The Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research, and Innovation’s grant for the Chalerm Rajkumari Scholarship Project (88.4 million baht).
• Chitralada Technology Institute’s grant for Royal Scholarships (30.88 million baht).

Examples of indirect expenditures from 2022-2024  (Unit: Million Baht)