Vajiralongkorn
Maha Vajiralongkorn (born 28 July 1952)[1] is the King of Thailand since October 13, 2016. He is the only son of former King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit. In 1972, the king gave him the title "His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn" and the title made him the third Crown Prince of Thailand and heir apparent to the throne. Vajiralongkorn was also a marshal in the Thai military.
| Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun สมเด็จพระเจ้าอยู่หัวมหาวชิราลงกรณ บดินทรเทพยวรางกูร | |||||||||
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| King Rama X | |||||||||
.png.webp) Vajiralongkorn in 2017 | |||||||||
| King of Thailand | |||||||||
| Reign | 13 October 2016 – present | ||||||||
| Coronation | 4 May 2019 | ||||||||
| Predecessor | Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX) | ||||||||
| Heir presumptive | Dipangkorn Rasmijoti | ||||||||
| Prime Minister | Prayut Chan-o-cha Prawit Wongsuwan (Acting) | ||||||||
| Born | 28 July 1952 Dusit Palace, Dusit, Bangkok, Thailand | ||||||||
| Spouse | Soamsawali Kitiyakara (m. 1977; div. 1991) Yuvadhida Polpraserth (m. 1994; div. 1996) Srirasmi Suwadee (m. 2001; div. 2014) Suthida Tidjai (m. 2019) Niramon Ounprom (m. 2019; sep. 2019) (m. 2020) | ||||||||
| Issue | Princess Bajrakitiyabha Prince Juthavachara Mahidol Prince Vacharaesorn Mahidol Prince Chakriwat Mahidol Prince Vatchrawee Mahidol Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti | ||||||||
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| Father | Bhumibol Adulyadej | ||||||||
| Mother | Sirikit | ||||||||
| Religion | Buddhism | ||||||||
| Vajiralongkorn | |
| Thai name | |
|---|---|
| Thai | วชิราลงกรณ |
| RTGS | Wachiralongkon |
King of Thailand
After his father's death on 13 October 2016, he succeeded to the throne of Thailand, with a delay, saying he needed "time to prepare before being proclaimed as the new king".[2] [3] He accepted the throne on December 1, 2016. The coronation was held in May 2019.
At aged 64, Vajiralongkorn became the oldest Thai monarch to ascend to the throne.[4]
He is the wealthiest monarch in the world, with a net worth said to be between US$30 billion[5] and US$70 billion.[6][7]
Personal life
Vajiralongkorn has been married and divorced three times. He has three daughters and five sons. His four eldest sons were born before he married their mother. They are not able to succeed as king, because their titles have been removed.
On 1 May 2019, three days before his coronation, Vajiralongkorn married Suthida Tidjai, former acting commander of Royal Thai Aide-de-Camp Department.[8]
Titles and styles
- 28 July 1952 – 28 December 1972: His Royal Highness Prince Vajiralongkorn
- 28 December 1972 – 13 October 2016: Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn
- 13 October 2016 - present: King Vajiralongkorn
.JPG.webp)
References
- "Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn". GlobalSecurity.org.
- AFP (2016-10-13). "Thai Prime Minister Prayuth says Crown Prince seeks delay in proclaiming him King". Coconut.co. Bangkok: Coconuts BKK. Retrieved 2016-10-14.
- "Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej dead at 88". BBC News. 13 October 2016. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
- "Maha Vajiralongkorn – King of Thailand". Archived from the original on 3 November 2016. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
- Hoffower, Hillary (17 July 2019). "Meet the 10 richest billionaire royals in the world right now". Business Insider. Archived from the original on 26 September 2019. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
- "Thailand protests: How much is the king worth? | Counting the Cost". Al Jazeera English. 30 January 2021. Archived from the original on 2021-10-30.
- Joehnk, Tom Felix; Wheeler, Matt (17 August 2020). "Opinion | 'You Have Awakened a Sleeping Giant'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
- ประกาศ เรื่อง สถาปนาสมเด็จพระราชินี (PDF). Ratchakitcha. Royal Thai Government. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
| Preceded by Bhumibol Adulyadej |
King of Thailand 2016–present |
Incumbent Heir: TBD |