BANGKOK, May 4 (TNA) — His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn on Saturday completed the elaborate Buddhist and Brahmin rituals to symbolically and officially transform him to be King Rama X of the Royal House of Chakri.
The 66-year-old monarch became constitutional monarch after the death of his revered father, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, in October 2016 after 70 years on the throne.
His Majesty King Vajiralongkorn is the tenth monarch of the Chakri dynasty, which has reigned since 1782.
The sombre ceremony on Saturday, the first the three-day coronation ceremonies started with His Majesty the king attended the purification bathing ceremony with sacred water that has been collected from more than 100 locations around the country. The sacred water was flowing from a canopied showerhead inside a pavilion specially erected next to the Chakrapat Biman Royal Residence in the Grand Palace.
His Majesty the King later attended the Royal anointment rite, or the offering of Abhisek water, from the eight representatives of the eight cardinal directions of the compass.
He later took his seat under the umbrella of state and recieved the five Royal Regalia – the symbols of kingship – which includes the Great Crown of Victory.
After that His Majesty King Vajiralongkorn sat on a high throne above his queen, royal family members and Brahmin priests inside the Grand Palace throne hall before making his first royal command that “I shall continue, protect and reign with righteousness for the benefits of the people forever.”
His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn also anointed and granted Queen Suthida to the royal title of Her Majesty.
Then His Majesty the King granted an audience to members of the Royal Family, privy councilors, cabinet members and senior government officials at Amarindra Vinijaya Throne Hall.
The official declaration of faith was made, demonstrating his willingness to become the Royal Patron of Buddhism.
At the Assumption of the Royal Residence Ceremony, he symbolically moved into the official residence with a housewarming ceremony.
Outside the Grand Palace walls, large crowd wearing yellow shirts sat on roadsides, holding up portraits of His Majesty the King and the Thai national flag.
On Sunday, His Majesty King Vajiralongkorn will take part in a the Liap Phranakhon Royal procession on roads around Rattanakosin Island, allowing people to pay homage.
His Majesty the King will grant a public audience on a balcony at the Grand Palace on Monday and huge crowds are expected for this event. (TNA)
