The wife of Thailand’s crown prince has relinquished her royal status in the midst of a corruption scandal that has shaken the government and monarchy.

A statement published in the Royal Gazette yesterday said Princess Srirasmi’s resignation from her status and duties was accepted.

Two weeks earlier, Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn had ordered his wife’s family stripped of the royal surname bestowed after the couple married in 2001.

The scandal erupted with the arrests last month of several of her relatives for involvement in a graft network allegedly headed by her uncle, ousted Central Investigation Bureau chief General Pongpat Chayapan.

They have been accused of extortion, smuggling, gambling and raising donations under false pretenses of helping the monarchy.

The crown prince and Srirasmi have a son together. She is the third wife of the 62-year-old prince.

- dpa