Some students at Thammasat University's Tha Prachan campus posed with cardboard cutouts of well-known critics of the monarchy on Saturday in a protest at the two-day graduation ceremony involving His Majesty the King.
On Friday and again yesterday, the King handed degrees to graduates at the campus.
Student-led demonstrations that began in July with the demand for the ousting of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and a new constitution have escalated into calls for curbs on royal powers, breaking a longstanding taboo.
ThaiPBS recently reported only about half of this year's 9,600 graduating Thammasat students joined rehearsals for ceremony, adding last year only 10% missed the event.
The university on Friday said the number of graduates registering for this year's ceremony was not different from most years. The two-day graduation ceremony was originally scheduled for April, but it had to be postponed because of Covid-19.
The palace has made no comment since the protests began, but Gen Prayut on Friday warned students not to disrupt the graduation ceremony at Thammasat, a site long seen as a centre for political activism.
Yesterday, student protesters set up life-size cardboard cutouts of historian Somsak Jeamteerasakul and former diplomat Pavin Chachavalpongpun, widely followed critics of the monarchy who live in self-exile.
"I chose to take a picture with Somsak because I respect him and I don't think he deserves whatever happened to him for speaking the truth and bravely criticising the monarchy," said a 23-year-old student who gave his name as Marut.
"We did not want to mock anyone. We just want to convey our well wishes to new graduates too and we are confident our campaign does not violate any law," said Suphanat Kingkaew, leader of the Thammasat Graduates of the People.
Thammasat did not respond to a request for comment.
The demonstration yesterday was reportedly scaled down when compared to other rallies the kingdom has seen in recent months.