page_title: Coronation of the Thai monarch
section_title: Crowning
hierarchical_section_title: Coronation of the Thai monarch / The coronation / Crowning
caption_attribution_description: English: Bhumibol at his coronation, wearing the Great Crown Victory.
context_page_description: The Coronation of the Thai monarch is a ceremony in which the King of Thailand is formally consecrated by anointment and crowning. The ceremony is divided into two main events: the coronation rites and the celebration of the Assumption of the Residence. The coronation rites are a blend of Hindu and Buddhist traditions dating back several centuries. The rites included the purification bath of the king, the anointing of the king, the crowning of the king, and the investiture of the royal regalia, the royal utensils, and the royal weapons of sovereignty. The Assumption of the Residence is a private housewarming celebration by members of the royal family at the Grand Palace.
  Historically, the coronation usually took place as soon as possible after the death of the previous monarch. This followed the custom that an unconsecrated king cannot bear certain regalia nor carry out any religious functions. However, in the last century this tradition has been replaced by a mourning period of about a year after the succession. The most recent coronation was held on 4 May 2019 for King Vajiralongkorn.
context_section_description: Proceeding to the west end of the Phaisan Thaksin hall to begin the crowning and investiture ceremony (พระราชพิธีถวายเครื่องสิริราชกกุธภัณฑ์), the king sits on another throne called the Phatharabit Throne (พระที่นั่งภัทรบิฐ). This gilded chair is flanked by two high tables. Over the throne is another seven-tiered white umbrella, this umbrella is replaced immediately by the nine-tiered royal umbrella as the king has now been consecrated. He is led in procession by the court Brahmins and followed behind by royal pages bearing items of the royal regalia, royal utensils, and the weapons of sovereignty, these having been transported in state from the Wat Phra Kaew earlier in the morning.
  Once seated, the king will receive homage from the Chief Brahmin, who will then recite a mantra called "Opening the portals of Kailash" (from the Tiruvacakam). This Tamil language mantra is an invitation for the deities, chiefly Shiva, to come to earth and merge in the person of the consecrated king. After this is finished the high priest directly addresses the king, first in Pali and then in Thai, while handing him the golden tablet of his style and title.
  He then says:
  The Chief Brahmin: May it please Your Majesty to grant me leave to address Your Majesty! Since Your Majesty has received full anointment and become His Majesty the King of Siam, we therefore beg in unanimity to present to Your Majesty Your full style and title as engraved upon the tablet of gold as also to hand to Your Majesty these regalia befitting Your high dignity. May Your Majesty be known by that style and accept these regalia. Having done so, may Your Majesty take upon Yourself the business of government, and, for the good and happiness of the populace, reign on in righteousness!
  The King: Be it so, Brahmin.
  The Chief Brahmin then takes the Great Crown of Victory from its bearer and hands it to the king. The king will then crown himself with it. At that moment a fanfare of instruments (performed by the Prakhom band of the royal court) is played inside the palace, while the royal anthem is also played by a military band outside. A 40-gun salute by artillery is fired simultaneously outside the palace walls. Elsewhere inside the royal residence the monks waiting within begins to chant a blessing. The Brahmin then hands the king the other items of the royal regalia, royal utensils, and the weapons of sovereignty. He accepts each in succession and then hands them to a page who displays them on two tables on either side of the throne. At the conclusion of the presentation, the entire group of Brahmin  will render homage to the king with the Chief Brahmin kneeling in front of the group while pronouncing the final benediction:
  The Chief Brahmin: May His Majesty, the Supreme Lord, Who now reigns over the kingdom here, triumph over all and everywhere always.
  The king will then pronounce his first command:
  The King: Brahmans, now that I have assumed the full responsibility of government, I will reign with righteousness, for the benefit and happiness of the Siamese people. I extend my royal authority over you and your goods and your chattels, and as your sovereign do hereby provide for your righteous protection, defence and keeping. Trust me and live at ease.
  The Chief Brahmin: I do receive the first command of Your Majesty.
  Now being fully crowned, the king will scatter gold and silver flowers and coins among the Brahmins as alms. The king will then pour water into a bowl as an offering to Phra Mae Thorani the goddess of earth. This is an ancient Hindu rite of ratification and confirmation for a good deed.
  The king then removes his crown as a sign of humility and devotion and proceeds to the Chakkraphat Phiman residence with chamberlains and pages bearing the royal regalia following him. Waiting for him is a chapter of monks, who had officiated the night before. The king will then receive a formal blessing from the Supreme Patriarch himself and then a blessing from the entire congregation of monks. An offering of yellow robes is made by the king to all the monks. The benediction 
caption: King Bhumibol Adulyadej is pouring water as an offering to Phra Mae Thorani in 1950, signifying the end of the religious part of the coronation.
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