Rama X or Maha Vajiralongkorn, King of Thailand

Rama X or HM Maha Vajiralongkorn is the son of King Bhumibol Adulyadej (deceased on October 13, 2016) and Queen Mother Sirikit.

He was proclaimed king on December 1, 2016.

Youth and Education of Rama X

The King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun was born in Bangkok in 1952.

His father, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, also known as Rama IX, had been on the Thai throne for six years.

The Crown Prince and his late father King Bhumibol Adulyadej

His Majesty Maha Vajiralongkorn attended primary school in his hometown before continuing his secondary education at a British private school, Millfield School in Somerset, and then at a university in Sydney.

Rama IX, the Queen, and the 4 children

The future king has three sisters:

• Princess Ubol Ratana Rajakanya, born on April 5, 1951;
• H.R.H. Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn
• H.R.H. Princess Chulabhorn, born on July 4, 1957.

Princess Ubol Ratana Rajakanya lost her royal title (Chao Fa) when she married a foreigner: Peter Ladd Jensen.

In 1972, at the age of 20, his father, Rama IX, designated him as the heir to the throne.

He then received military training at the Royal Military College, Duntroon in Canberra, and later studied art in Bangkok and graduated.

Military career of King Maha Vajiralongkorn

Rama X pursued a career in the Thai army.

He became a fighter pilot as well as a helicopter pilot and participated in numerous military maneuvers.

He also served sporadically in the US, British and Australian air forces.

The new king has undergone extensive military training starting at the Royal Military College Duntroon, in Canberra, Australia.

He even experienced his baptism by fire during some fighting in the north of the country and on the Cambodian border against the Khmer Rouge forces.

At the same time, he received the rank of general in the air force and then took command of his father's bodyguard regiment.

In 1978, he interrupted his military career to become a Buddhist monk for a season.

He was later appointed general of the Royal Army and admiral of the Thai fleet.

Religious Experience

Prince's Ordination

The prince was ordained as a monk on November 6, 1978 (at the age of 26) at Wat Phra Sri Rattana Satsadaram in Bangkok (Temple of the Emerald Buddha).

He then stayed at Wat Bowonniwet Vihara for 15 days and received the monastic name "Vajiralongkornno".

Family and Private Life of King Maha Vajiralongkorn

In January 1977, Maha Vajiralongkorn married Soamsavali Kitiyakara, a cousin of his mother Queen Sirikit.

However, the marriage was unhappy and the couple separated quickly but refused to divorce.

The couple has a daughter:

Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha (born in 1978)

SM Maha Vajiralongkorn then married an actress, Yuvadhida Polpraserth, who gave him five children:

• His Serene Highness Prince Juthawachara Mahidol (born 1979)
• His Serene Highness Prince Vacharaesorn Mahidol (born 1981)
• His Serene Highness Prince Chakriwat Mahidol (born 1983)
• His Serene Highness Prince Vatcharawee Mahidol (born 1985)
• Her Serene Highness Princess Busya Nambejra Mahidol (renamed Chakkrityabha Mahidol then Sirivanvari Mahidol), titled Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana (born 1987)

In 1993, he finally divorced his first wife and remarried Yuvadhida, an act disapproved by the queen.

But again, the union was a failure and the couple did not get along.

In 1996, the princess fled to Great Britain with three of her children, allowing the prince to accuse her of adultery with a marshal.

After this incident, he obtained a divorce and recovered his children.

In 2001, at the age of 49, he married Srirasmi Akharaphongpreecha in his third marriage.

However, this marriage remained secret until the birth of their first child:

His Royal Highness Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti (born in 2005), second in the order of succession after his father.

In December 2014, Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn divorced his last wife, who fell into disgrace after a corruption scandal involving her family.

On May 1, 2019, a few days before his coronation, the king married Suthida Vajiralongkorn Na Ayudhya, a close associate who had been commander of his bodyguard unit.

Suthida Vajiralongkorn na Ayudhya, who celebrated her 40th birthday last June, is the fourth wife of the king and has become the new Queen of Thailand.

Wedding of King Rama X and Queen Suthida Vajiralongkorn

See: The King of Thailand designates his wife as queen a few days before his coronation

Political activities

In the second half of the decade, Prince Vajiralongkorn occupied an increasingly important official role due to his father's advanced age.

He frequently replaces his father during official visits and ceremonies.

He inaugurated the 2007 Southeast Asian Games in Nakhon Ratchasima in his place.

On January 21, 2008, he presided over the opening ceremony of the new Parliament.

In December of the same year, he delivered for the first time with his sister Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, the traditional speech for the king's birthday, unavailable due to illness.

New King of Thailand

After the death of his father on October 13, 2016, he was to succeed to the throne of Thailand directly but asked for time to be able to mourn.

On December 1, 2016, he finally accepted the throne and became the tenth king of the Chakri dynasty under the name Rama X.

Coronation

Rama X was officially crowned on May 4, 2019.

During the ceremony, Rama X declared that he would follow in the footsteps of his father, King Bhumibol, and swore to:

continue, preserve, develop, and reign with justice for the benefit and happiness of his people.

See: King Maha Vajiralongkorn crowned Rama X of Thailand

Flag of the new King of Thailand

The color of the flag is the same as his father's because he was born on a Monday.

To learn more about the colors, see: Recognizing Thai flags

Popularity of King Rama X

The king has been the subject of many attacks by opponents of the regime, some of whom have been convicted of lese-majeste.

In July 2007, numerous unfounded rumors announced the death of the Crown Prince, who was said to be suffering from a serious illness.

These rumors, although erroneous, created a controversy regarding the opacity surrounding members of the royal family.

The king's popularity is much less significant than that of other members of the royal family.

For many years, King Maha Vajiralongkorn has mainly resided in Europe, in his residence in Germany.

See also:
Thailand has a new king

Sources: en.wikipedia.org ; wikipedia.org