Thai crown prince formally proclaimed king

Thailand's Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn was formally proclaimed king in a televised ceremony, two days after the Parliament invited him to ascend to the throne following the death of his father Rama IX, media reports said.

"In accordance with the Palace Law and the constitution, I accept the invitation (to become king) for the sake of (the late King) His Majesty and for all the Thai people," Xinhua news agency quoted Vajiralongkorn as saying in a televised statement.

Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's said "we have a new king now" in his televised address following the proclamation.

The Crown Prince will now assume the regal name 'Rama X'.

Since Vajiralongkorn accepted the invitation, he will now assume the regal name 'Rama X', or the 10th king of the Chakri dynasty founded in 1782.

He succeeds his father, revered late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who died aged 88 on October 13.

King Vajiralongkorn's formal coronation will not happen before his father's royal cremation later in 2017.

Born on July 28, 1952 in Bangkok, the 64-year-old king is the second of four children of late King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit, and their only son.

In 1972, Vajiralongkorn was designated as crown prince by his father at the age of 20.

He started primary education in 1956 and then went to the United Kingdom and Australia for further education before undergoing military training in Austria for several years.

According to his official biography, King Vajiralongkorn is a qualified helicopter and fighter pilot. He holds high ranks in the Thai defence forces.

--IANS

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