The preparations for the coronation of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn (Rama X) of Thailand are almost complete. The coronation is set to take place from 4 May to 6 May 2019. The Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said that the government is awaiting approval for the royal emblem to be used as the official logo. The Deputy Prime Minister also chairs the government committee responsible for organising ceremonies.
The emblem will be engraved on a container carrying water to be used in the royal purification ceremony. This water will be collected from five major rivers – the Pasak, Chao Phraya, Bang Paking, Ratchaburi and Phetchaburi and five large lakes. The King will undergo a ceremonial bath. The collecting of the water is a ceremony in itself, and this will take on 6 April. In addition, the emblem will be printed on materials such as flags for the government offices. If the public wishes to use the emblem, they must have the permission of the government. The committee has also asked the King to select an official photo to decorate office buildings.
Before the coronation, the King will hold a royal procession of 5 May. This procession will cover a distance of about 7 kilometres, and the route will go from the Grand Palace to Wat Bowon Niwet, Wat Ratchabophit Sathit Maha Simaram, Wat Phra Chetuphon Wimon Mangkhalaram before returning to the Grand Palace. In late October, the King will go on a royal barge procession, which will consist of 52 barges and 2,200 rowers on the Chao Phraya River.
King Maha Vajiralongkorn succeeded his father King Bhumibol Adulyadej upon his death on 13 October 2016. He asked for time to mourn his father before accepting the throne, which he did on 1 December 2016. The King has been married and divorced three times. He has seven children, though only three of those are still in the line of succession. His youngest son Dipangkorn Rasmijoti by his third wife is the heir presumptive to the throne of Thailand.
