Prime Minister Prayut Chanocha quoted the Crown Prince’s remarks at a press conference held at Government House last night.

The PM said he had an audience with the 64yearold Crown Prince in the evening, when he was informed of his wish.

“The Crown Prince prefers to join the entire nation in expressing his grief at this time. He asked that the process of accession to the throne be held back until a proper time,” Prayut said.

“He is aware of his duties as heir to the throne and will continue carrying out his Royal responsibilities in his capacity as Crown Prince.”

The PM called a press conference after a joint meeting of the Cabinet, the National Council for Peace and Order and National Legislative Assembly (NLA).

The heir apparent, Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, was born on July 28, 1952.

On December 28, 1972, at the age of 20, Prince Vajiralongkorn was bestowed the title of “Somdech Phra Borommaorasadhiraj Chao Fa Maha Vajiralongkorn Sayam Makut Rajakuman”, which literally means “Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, the Royal Son and Crown Prince of Siam” by His Majesty the King.

The ceremonial bestowing of the title was held at the Ananta Samakhon Throne Hall as per the 1924 Royal Family Law on Succession to the Throne. This ceremony was followed by the Crown Prince taking an oath of allegiance at the Temple of the Emerald Buddha inside the Grand Palace.

At the ceremony, the Crown Prince announced that he would be loyal to the country and honest to the people. “I will perform my duties to the best of my intelligence and ability, and also with devotion, for the peace and prosperity of Thailand,” the Prince said.

The Prince graduated from the Royal Military College of Duntroon in Canberra, Australia. An officer in the Thai military, he trained with the Australian, British and the United States armed services, qualifying as a military and helicopter pilot.

He also holds the titles of Army General, Navy Admiral and Air Chief Marshall of the Air Force.

Last night, the NLA convened a meeting where its President Pornpetch Wichitcholchai read a statement from the Royal Household Bureau announcing the passing of His Majesty the King.

The NLA members then observed nineminutes of silence in honour of the beloved monarch.

Pornpetch later told the meeting that the NLA would not convene a normal meeting until relevant proceedings under the Royal Family Law on Succession to the Throne and the Constitution have been implemented.