Thai Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn proclaimed himself as the new king of Thailand (Source: Reuters/VNA)Pornpetch Wichitcholchai, President of the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) – the parliament, released a statement to announce the ascendance to the nation.
The statement came after Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn granted an audience to Royal Regent Prem Tinsulanonda, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha, NLA President Wichitcholchai, and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Veerapol Tungsuwan.
The same day, the Public Relations Department of the Royal Thai Government announced the title of the new monarch as "His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun".
King Rama X’s formal coronation will take place after his father’s royal cremation at the end of 2017.
Vajiralongkorn is the only son of the four children of late King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit. He was designated Crown Prince by his father in 1972.-VNA
