Vajiralongkorn
Maha Vajiralongkorn (born 28 July 1952)[4] became the King of Thailand on October 13, 2016. He is the only son of former King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit. In 1972, the king gave him the title "His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn" . The title made him the third Crown Prince of Thailand and heir apparent to the throne. Vajiralongkorn was also a marshal in the Thai military.
Vajiralongkorn วชิราลงกรณ | |
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King Rama X | |
![]() Official portrait, 2017 | |
King of Thailand | |
Reign | 13 October 2016 – present[a] |
Coronation | 4 May 2019 |
Predecessor | Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX) |
Heir presumptive | Dipangkorn Rasmijoti[3] |
Prime Minister | Prayut Chan-o-cha Srettha Thavisin Paetongtarn Shinawatra |
Born | Amphorn Sathan Residential Hall, Dusit Palace, Dusit, Bangkok, Thailand | 28 July 1952
Spouse |
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Issue | Bajrakitiyabha, Princess Rajasarini Siribajra Juthavachara Vivacharawongse Vacharaesorn Vivacharawongse Chakriwat Vivacharawongse Vatchrawee Vivacharawongse Princess Sirivannavari Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti |
House | Mahidol (Chakri dynasty)[b] |
Father | Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX) |
Mother | Sirikit Kitiyakara |
Religion | Theravada |
Vajiralongkorn | |
Thai name | |
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Thai | วชิราลงกรณ |
RTGS | Wachiralongkon |
Early Life
changeVajiralongkorn was born at Amphorn Sathan Residential Hall, Dusit Palace in Bang Kok, He is second child and only son of King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit, He has three sisters in the family, He studied at Chitralada School, Preparatory school and first at a prep school, King's Mead, Seaford, Sussex, and then at Millfield School, in Somerset in United Kingdom, He completed his high school in Summer 1970. He attended a five-week military training course at The King's School, in Sydney, Australia.
Vajiralongkorn start study the military training by the Australian Army at Royal Military College, Duntroon in Canberra and a bachelor's degree course under the auspices of the University of New South Wales. He graduated in 1976 as a new lieutenant with a liberal arts degree.
In 1982, Vajiralongkorn was completed his second bachelor's degree in law, with second-class honors at Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University.
King of Thailand
changeAfter his father's death on 13 October 2016, he succeeded to the throne of Thailand, with a delay, saying he needed "time to prepare before being proclaimed as the new king".[5] [6] He accepted the throne on December 1, 2016. The coronation was held in May 2019.
At aged 64, Vajiralongkorn became the oldest Thai monarch to ascend to the throne.[7]
He is the wealthiest monarch in the world, with a net worth said to be between US$30 billion[8] and US$70 billion.[9][10]
Personal life
changeVajiralongkorn has been married and divorced three times. He has three daughters and five sons. His four eldest sons were born before he married their mother. They are not able to succeed as king, because their titles have been removed. Dipangkorn Rasmijoti, born in 2005, is heir presumptive.
On 1 May 2019, three days before his coronation, Vajiralongkorn married Suthida Tidjai, former acting commander of Royal Thai Aide-de-Camp Department.[11]
Titles and styles
change- 28 July 1952 – 28 December 1972: His Royal Highness Prince Vajiralongkorn
- 28 December 1972 – 13 October 2016: Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn
- 13 October 2016 - present: King Vajiralongkorn
References
change- ↑ "Vajiralongkorn ascends the throne as King Rama X". Khaosod English. 2 December 2016. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
- ↑ Paddock, Richard (1 December 2016). "New King for Thailand as Crown Prince, Vajiralongkorn, Ascends to Throne". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 3 December 2016. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
- ↑ Turner, Paige (25 Nov 2019). "5 things to know about Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti, son of Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn". South China Morning Post.
- ↑ "Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn". GlobalSecurity.org.
- ↑ AFP (2016-10-13). "Thai Prime Minister Prayuth says Crown Prince seeks delay in proclaiming him King". Coconut.co. Bangkok: Coconuts BKK. Retrieved 2016-10-14.
- ↑ "Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej dead at 88". BBC News. 13 October 2016. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
- ↑ "Maha Vajiralongkorn – King of Thailand". Archived from the original on 3 November 2016. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
- ↑ Hoffower, Hillary (17 July 2019). "Meet the 10 richest billionaire royals in the world right now". Business Insider. Archived from the original on 26 September 2019. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
- ↑ "Thailand protests: How much is the king worth? | Counting the Cost". Al Jazeera English. 30 January 2021. Archived from the original on 2021-10-30.
- ↑ Joehnk, Tom Felix; Wheeler, Matt (17 August 2020). "Opinion | 'You Have Awakened a Sleeping Giant'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
- ↑ ประกาศ เรื่อง สถาปนาสมเด็จพระราชินี (PDF). Ratchakitcha. Royal Thai Government. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
- Notes
- ↑ After a mourning period, on 1 December 2016, Vajiralongkorn accepted the formal invitation to become king. He was king retroactively to the day of his predecessor and father's death on 13 October 2016. Prem Tinsulanonda had acted as regent from that date.[1][2]
- ↑ In the Thai tradition, the house (ราชสกุล) is distinct from the dynasty (ราชวงศ์). Vajiralongkorn is the third king of the House of Mahidol (ราชสกุลมหิดล) and the tenth king of the Chakri dynasty (ราชวงศ์จักรี).
Preceded by Bhumibol Adulyadej |
King of Thailand 2016–present |
Incumbent Heir: TBD |