Crown prince proclaimed new king

Thailand’s parliament on Tuesday named Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn as the new king, completing a formal step for the heir to take the throne following the death of his father last month.

The Cabinet, following a 1924 law on succession, submitted Vajiralongkorn’s name to the National Assembly after a brief meeting, where members formally acknowledged him as the new monarch.

“I would like everyone to stand up and give their blessings to the new king,” said National Assembly President Pornpetch Wichitcholchai.

Pornpetch said he would invite Vajiralongkorn to take the throne, the 10th in the Chakri dynasty, which was founded in 1782. He did not say when Vajiralongkorn would formally accept, but Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan told reporters earlier that the royal audience would be in the next few days.

Vajiralongkorn was supposed to assume the throne the day his father died, but in a surprise announcement, Prime Minister Prayuth Chanocha said the prince asked for the ascension to be put off so he had time to mourn.

Vajiralongkorn’s father, the much-revered Bhumibol Adulyadej, who took the throne in 1946, died on Oct 13 at age 88 after many years of ill health. In 1972, Bhumibol had designated Vajiralongkorn his second child and only son to be his successor.

The government declared a full year of mourning for public offices, and most Thais have been somberly dressed in black or white since the king’s death, while revelry has been discouraged.

Huge crowds have been paying respects to the king’s remains at the Grand Palace in Bangkok. His body will be cremated in an elaborate ceremony that may take place a year or more after his death.

The official coronation of Vajiralongkorn will take place only after the cremation.

Vajiralongkorn to become Thailand’s new king