The Interior Ministry's Provincial Administration Department has removed the royally-bestowed name "Akkharaphongpricha" from the register of surnames, a highly placed ministry source said, Naewna Online reported.
The removal of the royally-given family name from the register responded to an order dated Nov 28 from the Personal Affairs Division of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn to permanent secretary for interior Wiboon Sanguanpong.
The source said the order was passed to Krisda Boonraj, director-general of the Provincial Administration Department, on Sunday. Mr Kriseda subsequently ordered all district offices to remove the royally-bestowed family name. All those people using it must revert to use of their old surname.
This has already been applied to three suspects accused of being members of former Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) chief Pongpat Chayapan's criminal network.