Thai Princess Ubolratana's unprecedented attempt to become the country's next prime minister has been abruptly halted after her party agreed to comply with a command from the king opposing the plan.
The party's announcement effectively blocking Ubolratana's candidacy came after an extraordinary rebuke by her brother King Maha Vajiralongkorn, and removes a hurdle for the ruling junta to hold onto power after the 24 March vote - the first since a 2014 coup.
The Thai Raksa Chart party, affiliated with the powerful Shinawatra political clan, had announced the princess as their candidate on Friday morning.
The move rattled the status quo and threatened the ambitions of the generals who have controlled Thailand since they toppled the administration of Yingluck Shinawatra almost five years ago.
But the Thai king torpedoed his sister's bid in a sharply worded statement the same day that said bringing senior royal family members into politics was against tradition and "highly inappropriate."
Thai Raksa Chart responded swiftly, cancelling a campaign event on Saturday and issuing a statement saying it "complies with the royal command".
Thailand has some of the most severe lese majeste laws in the world and the king's word is seldom challenged.
Royalist Thais and celebrities praised the intervention on social media after the order, writing "long live the king".
Others expressed unhappiness with groups such as Thai Raksa Chart linked to Yingluck and her brother Thaksin, who was ousted in a 2006 coup.
Analysts say the events of the past day will help the military to consolidate power and tilt the odds in favour of junta chief Prayut Chan-O-Cha.
Prayut is standing as premier for the Phalang Pracharat party, a group aligned with the regime.
The military has "gained the upper hand", said professor Anusorn Unno from Thammasat University, adding that it is poised to perform well in the vote.
Even before Thai Raksa Chart's reversal, many warned the palace statement had ended the princess' chances.
"The palace disapproval invalidates her candidacy," said Puangthong Pawakapan, professor of political science at Chulalongkorn University.
An Election Commission official said it is reviewing all candidate applications and will finish the process this week, though few expect it to divert from the royal order.
Thailand is a constitutional monarchy and has not had a royal run for frontline office since 1932.
The 67-year-old princess has yet to address the rebuke head on.
She thanked supporters on Saturday on her widely followed Instagram account, saying vaguely that she wanted Thailand to "move forward".
The king did not criticise the princess directly and seemed to focus blame on political party members who brought her on board.
