Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn, 66, will finally have his coronation ceremony in May of this year.
The Royal Household Bureau made the announcement yesterday saying the coronation and celebration festivities would take place from 4 May through 6 May.
His Majesty will be crowned in a ceremony on 4 May with a celebration procession the following day. The 5th of May will also see a ceremony “bestow the royal name” as per Thai royal tradition. On 6 May, His Majesty will meet the public and foreign dignitaries in a “grand audience.”
The Royal Household Bureau announced, “His Majesty deems it fit to hold the coronation ceremony per royal traditions for the good fortune of the nation and the kingdom, to be enjoyed by the hopeful people.”
“It’s a suitable time to hold the coronation in accordance to the tradition and for national celebration and joy of the people,” they added.
The King (who is also called King Rama X) has expressed his wishes that the coronation ceremony be held in a more modest manner, according to Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha last June.
The Prime Minister announced last month that His Majesty’s coronation would take place this year after the elections in February. However, at the time, he stopped short of revealing a date.
King Rama X came to the throne after the death of his father, King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s death on 13 October 2016. His father, also called King Rama IX, was beloved in Thailand, and his death led to widespread mourning across the country.
Thailand’s current monarch did not officially ascend the throne until his proclamation as King on the night of 1 December 2016 (the 50th day after his father’s death) at his request. The new monarch wanted time to grief before taking on the role. As such, former Prime Minister of Thailand, Prem Tinsulanonda took on the position of regent until Maha Vajiralongkorn was ready to take the throne. The Thai government later retroactively declared King Rama X’s ascension to the throne as 13 October 2016.
The only son of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit was born on 28 July 1952. He has one older sister and two younger sisters. King Rama X’s fifth son and youngest child, Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti, 13, is the heir presumptive to the Thai throne.
