Maha Vajiralongkorn

Maha Vajiralongkorn
The Public Relations Department (กรมประชาสัมพันธ์) · CC BY 3.0 th · source
Name	Maha Vajiralongkorn
Native name	ภูมิพลอดุลยเดช (Note: do not use variants)
Succession	King of Thailand
Reign	13 October 2016 – present
Coronation	4 May 2019
Predecessor	Bhumibol Adulyadej
Successor	(incumbent)
House	Chakri dynasty
Father	Bhumibol Adulyadej
Mother	Sirikit
Birth date	28 July 1952
Birth place	Dusit District, Bangkok

Maha Vajiralongkorn is the tenth monarch of the Chakri dynasty and the current King of Thailand. He ascended following the death of Bhumibol Adulyadej and was proclaimed by the National Assembly of Thailand; his coronation took place in 2019 in a ceremony intertwining rites from Thai royal tradition, Brahminism, and Buddhist consecration. His reign has been marked by constitutional adjustments, military relationships, and significant public and international attention.

Early life and education

Born in Dusit District, Bangkok in 1952, he is the eldest son of Bhumibol Adulyadej and Sirikit of the Chakri dynasty. His early schooling included the Rajavinit School and the King's College School, Wimbledon in London, followed by tertiary education at the Royal Military College, Duntroon in Canberra and the Harrow School. He underwent military and academic training at the United States Air Force institutions including Lackland Air Force Base and attended courses connected with the Royal Thai Air Force and foreign training programs in Australia and the United Kingdom.

Military career

His formal military career has been primarily within the Royal Thai Army and the Royal Thai Air Force, where he received commissions and held ranks culminating in senior positions traditionally accorded to Thai royalty. He trained with the Australian Defence Force and the United States Air Force and flew aircraft associated with Royal Thai Air Force units. His military appointments included honorary and operational roles linked to Thai military academies and regiments that maintain close ties to the Monarchy of Thailand and the Ministry of Defence (Thailand).

Succession and reign

Following the death of Bhumibol Adulyadej in October 2016, the National Assembly of Thailand convened to formalize succession, and the Royal Household Bureau announced his accession under the provisions of the 2017 Constitution and traditional succession practices of the Chakri dynasty. His formal coronation in May 2019 incorporated rites presided over by representatives of the Sangha including senior monks from Wat Phra Kaew and Brahmin priests from Devasathan. During his reign, he issued royal commands and accumulated prerogatives that intersect with statutes such as the 2017 Constitution and institutional arrangements involving the Privy Council of Thailand and the Royal Household Bureau.

Personal life and family

He is a member of the Chakri dynasty and the son of Bhumibol Adulyadej and Sirikit. His family life includes several marriages and children connected to Thai royal and noble households; notable relations have ties to institutions such as the Royal Pages and royal projects associated with Bangkok. Members of his family have been subjects of public attention, and his private life intersected with matters involving both Thai and international figures from Australia and Germany. Family events have been observed by bodies including the Royal Household Bureau and reported by major Thai institutions like the National News Bureau of Thailand.

Constitutional role and political influence

Under the 2017 Constitution, the monarch performs functions such as promulgation of laws, appointment of high officials, and granting of royal assent, often executed in coordination with the National Assembly of Thailand and the Council of Ministers. The King’s powers include prerogatives exercised through instruments like royal command and appointments; these interact with entities including the Privy Council of Thailand, the Supreme Court of Thailand, and the Constitutional Court of Thailand. His relationship with the Royal Thai Armed Forces and leadership circles, including senior figures from the National Council for Peace and Order and subsequent cabinets, has affected governance dynamics, especially during periods of political transition and constitutional revision associated with the 2014 Thai coup d'état and the drafting process of the 2017 Constitution.

Public image and controversies

Public perceptions of the monarch have been shaped by media coverage from outlets such as the Bangkok Post, the The Nation (Thailand), and international organizations including the United Nations and various human rights NGOs. Controversies during his life and reign have involved debates over royal prerogatives, personal conduct, and institutional reform; these discussions engaged actors such as the Thai public protests (2020–2021), student groups linked to the Free Youth movement, senior politicians from parties like Palang Pracharath Party and Pheu Thai Party, and legal frameworks including the Lesé-majesté law (Article 112). International responses have come from foreign ministries of countries including United Kingdom, United States, and Australia, while domestic discourse has featured commentary from academics at institutions such as Chulalongkorn University and Thammasat University.

Category:Kings of Thailand Category:Chakri dynasty