HIS MAJESTY King Bhumibol Adulyadej had named his only son as the Crown Prince in 1972, according to an urgent letter from the Office of the Prime Minister received by the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) president.
Signed by Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday, the letter urged NLA President Pornpetch Wichitcholchai to acknowledge that the late monarch, who died on October 13, had already appointed HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn as Heir to the Throne.
“This letter is for acknowledgment and for further action,” the letter concluded.
In response to the letter, Pornpetch convened a special session of the NLA to officially reacknowledge the Crown Prince’s status and proceeded to invite him to become the new King.
Prayut’s letter to Pornpetch yesterday explained that the succession process following the late King’s death was not started immediately in response to the Crown Prince’s wish.
“He had asked for time to mourn the passing, along with Thai people, and to try to accept what had happened,” the letter said.
According to the letter, the Crown Prince has preferred that any consideration about the succession should be postponed at least until merit-making ceremonies for his father’s royal funeral had taken place for 50 days. The 50th day falls tomorrow.
The letter said the government believed that after about 1 million mourners had already prostrated themselves before the body of the late King, it was the time to start the succession process in line with royal traditions and the constitution.
“The move will restore the morale of, and bring delight, to the people,” Prayut’s letter said, adding the government had already informed the Crown Prince so.
The letter has cited the 1924 palace law on succession in nudging the NLA to take necessary steps in inviting the Crown Prince to take the throne.
The Crown Prince was appointed as heir to the throne in a grand ceremony inside the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall in front of many witnesses including royals, Cabinet members, foreign envoys, government officials, soldiers, civilians and NLA members on December 28, 1972.

Pattern of succession
In addition, the letter pointed out that all Thai constitutions as well as the draft constitution that sailed through the public referendum earlier this year had prescribed a similar pattern of succession.
The letter also underlined the fact that King Vajiravudh was also once a crown prince and he ascended the throne following the passing of his father, King Chulalongkorn in |1910.