Former Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha was yesterday granted an audience with Their Majesties the King and Queen, during which he took the oath as the newest member of the Privy Council.

The Royal Gazette announced that His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn appointed Gen Prayut as privy councillor, effective November 23.

Prayut was presented to the King and the Queen by Gen Surayud Chulanont, the president of the Privy Council.

A former army commander-in-chief, Prayuth came to power in a military coup in 2014 and served as prime minister until 2019, when he was elected to the position following a general election. He left office in August of this year.

The Privy Council, which serves as a body of advisors to the monarch, was created during the reign of King Rama V (1853-1910). Privy councillors are also tasked with coordination between the Crown and the government, parliament, the courts of justice, private organisations and citizens.