New King on the Thai Throne

Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn has been hailed monarch by the name of Rama X.

A necessary procedure

About two months ago, the King of Thailand died at the age of 88, after which an interregnum was declared in the country. The Crown Prince (born in 1952) was the sole heir to the King through the male line.

Today, the formal enthronement procedure was performed and announced by the chairman of the National Legislative Assembly, Pornpeth Vichitcholchay.

Members of the assembly greeted the news with the slogan "Long live the king!"

The new monarch

Vajiralongkorn is the second child in the family of the late King Bhumibol and Queen Sirikit. He received higher education in Australia, where he graduated from the Air Force Academy. Later, he continued his military career in Thailand.

In 1972, at age 20, he was declared the crown prince.

For the Thai people, the King is the representation and embodiment of divinity. The late King Rama IX was considered the "soul of the people."