King Maha Vajiralongkorn ascends to the throne as new Thai monarch

Thailand’s Crown Prince ascended to the throne as King Vajiralongkorn on the 1st of December beginning his reign as the 10th Rama of the Chakri Dynasty, and pledging to work “for the benefit of all Thais,” before a royal audience that included the leaders of all three branches of the Thai government.

The 64-year-old Crown Prince accepted the invitations of the Cabinet and the National Legislative Assembly to become Thailand’s new constitutional monarch, adhering to procedures detailed in the 1924 Palace Rule on Royal Succession. He will be formally coronated in a grand ceremony late next year following the royal cremation of his late father King Bhumibol Adulyadej who reigned for seven decades and who passed away on October 13 at the age of 89.

King Bhumibol designated his only son as Crown Prince in 1972. Now officially known as King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun, the new King is a graduate of Australia’s elite Duntroon Royal Military College, possesses a master’s degree in the arts from Sukhothai Thammatirat University in Bangkok, and is an accomplished jet fighter pilot.

King Vajiralongkorn also marked the day by attending a merit making-ceremony at the Grand Palace with other members of the royal family to honor his late father King Bhumibol on the 50th day following his passing. Government leaders also conducted merit-making ceremonies at Government House, as did 1,500 judges at the Criminal Court.

Photo credit : Information Division of OHM