page_title: Vajiralongkorn
section_title: Heir apparent and social interest
hierarchical_section_title: Vajiralongkorn / Heir apparent and social interest
caption_attribution_description: ไทย: พระบาทสมเด็จพระปรมินทรมหาภูมิพลอดุลยเดช ทรงนำสมเด็จพระบรมโอรสาธิราชฯ สยามมกุฎราชกุมาร ขณะทรงพระเยาว์ ทอดพระเนตรเรือรบ
context_page_description: Vajiralongkorn, reigning title Phrabat Somdet Phra Vajira Klao Chao Yu Hua, is the King of Thailand since 2016. He is the only son of King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit. In 1972, at the age of 20, he was made crown prince by his father. After his father's death on 13 October 2016, he was expected to ascend to the throne of Thailand but asked for time to mourn before taking the throne.
  He accepted the throne on the night of 1 December 2016. His father was cremated on 26 October 2017. His coronation took place from 4–6 May 2019. The Thai government retroactively declared his reign to have begun on 13 October 2016, upon his father's death. As the tenth monarch of the Chakri dynasty, he is also styled as Rama X. Aged 64 at that time, Vajiralongkorn became the oldest Thai monarch to ascend to the throne.
  As of 2020, his net worth is estimated to be around US$30 billion, making him the wealthiest ruler in the world. He lives in Germany, in the state of Bavaria. People in Thailand are not allowed to criticize his rule, as the monarchy is protected by one of the strictest Lèse-majesté laws in the world.
context_section_description: Vajiralongkorn was proclaimed crown prince on 28 December 1972 at 12:23 in the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall, making him the third crown prince of the Chakri dynasty. An excerpt from the royal command to establish the title of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn reads:
  As stated in the bliss or the royal statutes of the country, when a Royal Prince who is destined to be heir to the throne is mature, the King shall graciously bestow the rank upon him of Somdet Phra Yupharat Mongkutratchakuman. At this present time, all people including citizens of nations all over the world shall accept and acclaim that His Royal Highness Prince Vajiralongkorn shall to succeed to the throne of the Kingdom. When His Royal Highness Prince is mature, at the time that he shall be established as heir to the throne, tradition and a royal tradition Kattii ceremony should be observed, consistent with the citizens and all leaders of the country of all sides. Therefore, His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej hereby decrees for His Royal Highness Prince Vajiralongkorn to be His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn in accordance with the name written in the Supannabhat as: Somdet Phra Boromma-orasathirat Chao Fa Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun Sirikittayasombunsawangwat Worakhuttiyarajsantiwong Mahitalaphong Adulayadet Chakkrinaresyuppharajvisut Sayammakutratchakuman....
  He had taken up his duties while serving in the Royal Thai Armed Forces, including frequent provincial tours and representing King Bhumibol at a wide variety of official functions and ceremonies before he ascended the throne.
caption: Prince Vajiralongkorn and King Bhumibol Adulyadej in 1961
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