Tourists visited the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand, today amid questions surrounding the future of the monarchy following the recent election win by a party vowing to abolish the country's lese-majeste law.

The wealthy Siamese royal family is shielded by criticism due to a draconian law that jails offended for up to 15 years anyone who 'insults, defames or threatens the King, the Queen, the Heir-apparent or the Regent'.

Progressive liberals at the Move Forward Party won a majority of seats in a national poll on May 15 with a pledge to reform the law.

However, leader Pita Limjaroenrat faces an uphill struggle to become PM against an electoral system rigged by the military to ensure army chiefs retain control through a system of 250 military-appointed unelected old-age senators who cast the deciding votes.

The ultra-conservative senators - branded 'dinosaurs' by critics - have vowed to reject the Move Forward party due to its stance on modernising the state and vote instead for the army to govern and maintain the status quo.