Thailand has a new king
Thailand has a new king
after Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, 64, accepted an invitation from
parliament to succeed his father. His succession comes 50 days after the widely
loved and revered King Bhumibol died in October, aged 88. Prince Vajiralongkorn
will be known as King Maha Vajiralongkorn. He will also be known as Rama X, or
the 10th king of Thailand's Chakri dynasty. He addressed his people in a
televised statement on Thursday. He said: "I would like to accept the
invitation for the benefit of the Thai people." Thailand's Prime Minister
Prayuth Chan-ocha said: "May all the Thai people unite to pray that…he may
long reign as an idol and guardian of the Thai people."
The coronation of the new
king will not take place until after King Bhumibol's cremation early next year.
The new king was born on July 28, 1952. He went to schools in Australia and the
UK before doing his military training in Australia. King Maha Vajiralongkorn is
widely travelled and has a home in Germany. Over the past few years, he has
undertaken more of his father's ceremonial duties in Thailand when the late
king was ill and needed medical treatment. He also organized and participated
in high-profile events such as cycle rides around the Thai capital Bangkok. One
of his first acts as monarch will be to endorse Thailand's new constitution
that has been backed by the Thai people.
