Thai king concludes coronation celebrations with public audience
Maha Vajiralongkorn succeeded to the throne after the 2016 death of his father, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who reigned for seven decades.
Thousands of Thais gathered around Bangkok’s Grand Palace on Monday in the hope of catching a glimpse of King Maha Vajiralongkorn as he ended three days of coronation ceremonies with appearances before the public and the diplomatic corps.
Vajiralongkorn succeeded to the throne after the 2016 death of his father, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who reigned for seven decades.
However, it was not until Saturday’s formal coronation that he was established as the fully-fledged monarch with complete regal powers based on the Southeast Asian nation’s traditions.
Large video screens were placed nearby so those unable to make their way to the front could watch the proceedings.
It was not certain whether the king would speak. The diplomats were to have an audience with him afterwards.
Though Thailand has had a constitutional monarchy since 1932, when a revolution ended absolute rule by kings, the country’s monarchs are regarded as almost divine and have been seen as a unifying presence in a country that has seen regular bouts of political instability as it rotates between elected governments and military rule.
As the crowd waited in the blazing tropical heat on Monday, some broke into cheers whenever a passing cloud blocked the sun.
“Today, our family of 13 people came here out of loyalty to the king,” said Utain Sanggun, a Bangkok resident who was queuing to buy a souvenir pin and royal logo cap.
“We are so happy. Yesterday, we waited until midnight to send off His Majesty. It was such an impressive image that I shed tears.”
His wife, Queen Suthida, and eldest daughter, Princess Bajrakitiyabha, marched alongside.
Vajiralongkorn is also known as King Rama X, because he is the 10th king in the Chakri dynasty, which began in 1782.
His coronation has involved a series of elaborate, centuries-old rituals rooted in Buddhist and Brahmanic traditions.
A final coronation celebration will be held around late October, when there will be a royal barge procession on Bangkok’s Chao Phraya River.
