Thailand’s new monarch, King Maha Vajiralongkorn, yesterday led prayers for his late father, his first appearance at Bangkok’s Grand Palace since he was officially appointed the day before after a seven-week delay.
The ceremony, which was broadcast live on television, offered Thais their first glimpse of Vajiralongkorn presiding over official duties as their new king, the 10th ruler of the Chakri Dynasty.
Thailand has been plunged into grief since the death of his widely revered father King Bhumibol Adulyadej on Oct. 13 after seven decades on the throne.
Photo: THAI Bureau of the Royal Household via AP
The kingdom also experienced an unusual royal interregnum when Thailand’s ruling junta announced that Vajiralongkorn, 64, had asked to put off officially ascending the throne to mourn his father.
The monarchy is shielded by a harsh royal defamation law making debate about its role impossible in the kingdom and forcing media to heavily self-censor.
The brief period of succession uncertainty came to an end this week with Vajiralongkorn’s official proclamation as the new king capped by an acceptance on Thursday evening.
Palace officials have announced that his full title is now Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun.
He is also to be known as King Rama X.
Thailand now enters a new and uncertain era.
Bhumibol’s long reign spanned a tumultuous period of Thai history pockmarked by a communist insurgency, coups and street protests.
The monarchy weathered such storms by forging strong links to the country’s generals, who have successfully seized power a dozen times, the latest in 2014.
It also saw breakneck development which has resulted in a huge wealth disparity between a Bangkok-centric elite and the rural poor.
To many Thais, Bhumibol was the only consistent force in a politically combustible country.
In contrast, Vajiralongkorn has yet to achieve his father’s widespread popularity and his ties to the military brass are less clear.
He is also comparatively unknown to ordinary Thais.
He has chosen to spend much of his time outside the kingdom, has not given an interview in years and is protected from criticism by the lese majeste law.
He has had three high-profile divorces and seven children, four of whom are not recognized by the palace.
His latest marriage ended in 2014 after a string of his wife’s family members were arrested and jailed for corruption and royal defamation.
In a separate corruption probe against a clutch of close aides last year, two suspects died in custody.
Yesterday’s ceremony marked 50 days since Bhumibol’s death, a particularly auspicious funerary period in Thai Buddhism.
Vajiralongkorn was accompanied by his three recognized children, a daughter from his first marriage, a daughter from his second and 11-year-old Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti, who is being schooled in Germany.
His coronation is to take place after Bhumibol’s cremation, which would not occur until after a one-year mourning period has ended.
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