His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn told Regent pro tempore Prem Tinsulanonda and Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha that they must prevent public confusion over the Kingdom’s administration and the succession to the throne.

Prem’s Saturday evening audience with the Crown Prince at Amporn Sathan Hall inside Dusit Palace was his first as Regent, with him receiving a report on his responsibilities, Prayut said on TV later that night.

“HRH the Crown Prince has mentioned an important thing, saying that people should have no confusion over the administration and succession to the throne since the process is clearly stated in the constitution and the Palace Law,” Prayut said. “But it will happen when all people and he have passed the grieving time.”

The Crown Prince said all people, all sectors of society and him personally were suffering great sorrow so all sides must join hands and help one another before any steps be taken regarding the succession, Prayut said.

“Everyone should use this moment to preserve the beautiful memory of the 70-year reign [of the King],” Prayut quoted the Crown Prince as saying.

The prime minister also quoted the Crown Prince as saying that after the religious and funeral rites have lasted a certain period, it would be time to take action related to the succession.

Prayut said the government had consulted with the president of the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) to take the royal wishes of the Crown Prince into account.

“I have to pass on this message to the nation in order to assuage your anxiety and to express your condolences for the loss of the great King as you feel,” he said.

“As many people told the media, we were born [under] and we grew up under the reign of King Rama IX. Therefore, it is really hard to get over the loss.”

Prayut yesterday said his administration would continue seamlessly during the country’s mourning period, according to Government Spokesman Lt-General Sansern Kaewkamnerd.

The prime minister wants to reassure the public that there would be no vacuum in the government’s work, Sansern said after a meeting of officials at a command centre that is monitoring the situation.

A Cabinet meeting will go ahead as planned tomorrow, in which the preparations for King Bhumibol’s funeral will be discussed, he said.

“We can feel grief but we must not forget our duties. We can feel sorrow but we need to have hope. We can be sad but we must not lose love and faith towards our country,” Sansern quoted Prime Minister Prayut as saying.

Sansern insisted that the “road map” for political reform would proceed as planned. The general election is scheduled for November next year.

The NLA will resume its routine sessions on October 27, according to the NLA Secretariat.