Prem had served as Regent pro tempore after the death of King Bhumibol in mid-October. He resigned as President of the Privy Council for the late King |yesterday. His re-appointment for the new monarch was announced on TV Pool last night.

Meanwhile, government heads will meet with officials from key state agencies on Tuesday to detail new state procedures and practices in relation to King Rama X’s ascension to the throne, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said.

For the public, the government’s situation monitoring centre will hold a meeting to come up with new guidelines and announce them, the deputy prime minister said. Wissanu said there would be changes to at least three national holidays, but the issue had not yet been decided. However, he noted that there would not be a great impact on people.

Wissanu declined to elaborate further, saying it concerned various conditions, not just the King’s power.

Wissanu said under the constitution, Privy Council members vacate their positions upon their death, resignation, or at the King’s will.

HM King Maha Vajiralongkorn succeeded to the throne on Thursday.

LOOKING BACK in history, Thailand erupted with joy upon the birth of the prince on July 28, 1952, who would become King Rama X.

Back then, his father HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej had already reigned over the country for more than six years and had a daughter, Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya. It was no secret that after the birth of the princess, Thais hoped his second child would be a prince.

By Thai law and tradition, only a male royal can ascend the throne. HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej (King Rama IX) was the ninth king of the Chakri Dynasty.

Several important figures headed to Ambhorn Sathan Villa, in the Dusit Palace, on July 28, 1952, when the delivery of the royal baby was expected.

HRH Princess Sri Nagarindra the Princess Mother, and HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana, the King’s elder sister, turned up at noon.

The King was on hand with a camera to capture the very special moments.

Several other senior persons, including then-prime minister Plaek Phibunsongkhram, also showed up to serve as witnesses, to ensure that there was no mistake about the blue-blood baby’s identity. The witnesses checked the delivery room to ensure that there was no other baby before the queen delivered her child. They then waited outside.

The queen’s uncle, who was a doctor working at Chulalongkorn Hospital, helped deliver the prince, assisted by three nurses.

Then at 5.45pm on July 28, 1952, Prince Vajiralongkorn was born to the delight of all Thais.

“…The minute he was born, it started raining. They were the first rains in quite a long time that year. It was as if even heaven recognised his birth. Everyone was glad,” Prof MR Sumonchart Swasdikul recalled.

After the birth was announced, traditional music was played, the Royal Thai Army fired a 21-shot gun salute and “chai yo” (the Thai words for hurrah) echoed everywhere.

Four days later, the King wrote to the then-Supreme Patriarch to ask for a name for the prince.

A month later, the senior monk suggested that the prince should be named “Vajiralongkorn” – a combination of the names of his great grandfather (King Rama V) and his great-great grandfather (King Rama IV). King Rama V the Great is King Chulalongkorn while King Rama IV was widely known as “Vajirayan” during his monkhood.

The Supreme Patriarch reportedly also predicted the prince’s future, but it has been kept a secret.

Later, the prince had two younger sisters – HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn and HRH Princess Chulabhorn Valayalaksana.

The King had resolved to set up the Chitralada School in the compound of the Chitralada Royal Villa to educate his children. Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya was the first student with student ID No 1. When her brother enrolled, he was student No 9.

The prince started learning at the Chitralada School on January 10, 1956.

“His Majesty had instructed teachers not to give any privileges to his children … but to inculcate in them a sense of discipline, responsibility, duty, punctuality and compassion,” Khunying Tassanee Bunyakupt, the headmistress of the school at that time, revealed later.

The Chitralada School has also enrolled children of the royal family’s friends, government officials and courtiers.

The prince was good in his studies and demonstrated his love for adventure. He seemed to love all kinds of adventurous activities. By 1961, he had started riding horses. When he joined the scout class at his school that year, his classmates chose him as the head of the unit.

Normally, the prince woke up about 7am. He was never late for class. On days when there was a scout class, he woke up even earlier and would polish his uniform’s insignia and belts.

In 1963, the prince participated in the parade alongside scouts from various schools at the National Stadium of Thailand, which was presided over by his parents. When people expressed concern that he might faint under the scorching sun, the prince said: “I can do this. Don’t look down on me.”

Two years later, he joined another scout parade and did not budge despite the heavy rains. A senior official tried to persuade him to take cover, but the prince said: “Why do I have to get under the roof? If other scouts can stand under the rain, I can, too. I am strong enough.”

The prince studied at the Chitralada School only until Mathayom 1, after which he went overseas for his education. His choice was in the field of military studies.

He was studying in Australia when his father called him back to Thailand for a grand investiture ceremony to grant him the title of Crown Prince on December 28, 1972.

In taking the title of Crown Prince, he vowed to be loyal to his nation, honest with his people, and carry out his duties to the best of his abilities for the prosperity, peace and security of Thailand throughout his life.

The next day at a garden party hosted by the government in celebration of his appointment, the Crown Prince said: “I am aware that I have a duty to and responsibility towards my country. Serving the country is an extremely important mission, which requires both wisdom and abilities. I shall persevere in my studies and practice to live up to my duty and fulfil public expectations of me”.

“I accept the invitation in order to follow His Majesty King Bhumibol’s will and for the benefit of all Thai people,” HM King Maha Vajiralongkorn said in reply to the invitation during the inauguration yesterday.

The proclamation ceremony was held in the evening when King Maha Vajiralongkorn, then in his capacity as Crown Prince, granted an audience to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, NLA President Pornpetch Wichitcholchai, Supreme Court President Veerapol Tungsuwan and Regent pro tempore Prem Tinsulanonda.

At the audience at Ambhorn Sathan Villa in Dusit Palace starting at 7.16pm, Pornpetch asked the Crown Prince to ascend the Throne and become the 10th King of the 234-year-old Chakri dynasty.

The reign of King Rama X actually began on October 13 when His Majesty King Bhumibol passed away in order to preserve the continuity of the dynasty, he said.

After he accepted the invitation, King Maha Vajiralongkorn prostrated to pay respect in front of the portraits of his parents King Rama IX and Her Majesty Queen Sirikit.

The new King then addressed the audience briefly before ending the ceremony. The inauguration was televised nationwide but the King’s conversation with the audience was not broadcast.

According to the law, it is the duty of the NLA president to extend the invitation and announce the proclamation. The other top officials were present at the ceremony as representatives of the sovereign powers in governance, namely the executive, legislative and judicial branches, Deputy Prime Minister Wassanu Krea-gnam said.

Prem, who ended his duty as the Regent pro tempore after the proclamation, praised the new King.

Pornpetch later made a public announcement of the proclamation on television.

In the same television address, Prayut made a statement saying that although people knew they were to be parted from a person they truly loved and respected, which caused suffering, loss and sadness, everyone should turn the crisis into an opportunity and grief into strength.

“Although the late King, who was the strength of the land, is no longer with us physically to protect us, the strength of the land will prevail with the power of faith and confidence in the royal aspiration and approach of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej,” he said. “His Majesty the new King, the beloved son of the late King, will carry forward his leadership and legacy,” Prayut said.

The proclamation was held yesterday after a merit-making ceremony marking the 50th day since the passing of HM King Bhumibol.

In addition to the ceremony held at the Grand Palace, which was closed to the public yesterday, similar merit-making ceremonies were held at government offices across the country.

HM King Maha Vajiralongkorn will preside over a merit-making ceremony at the palace today, functioning for the first time as King of Thailand.

As Foreign Affairs Minister Don Pramudwinai along with officials and retirees attended a merit-making ritual at the ministry’s Vithes Samosorn Hall in Bangkok, Thai embassies and consulates in various countries also joined Thai temples to host rituals for the late monarch.

While Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha led officials to present offerings to 89 monks on the occasion, the National Legislative Assembly, the National Reform Council and the Constitution Drafting Commission hosted a similar event at Parliament. The Royal Thai Armed Forces also hosted a ritual at its headquarters in Lak Si district.

At Wat Chollapratarn Rangsarit in Nonthaburi, Justice Minister General Paiboon Koomchaya presided over the ordination of 85 monks.

Meanwhile, Supreme Court Chairman Weerapol Tangsuwan led 1,500 judges and officials at the Courts of Justice to make merit before singing the song composed by the King titled “Impossible Dream” and the Royal Anthem.

About 700 officials at the Office of the Attorney-General also attended an alms offering to 10 monks before they sang “Impossible Dream” and the Royal Anthem. Bangkok Governor Aswin Kwanmuang along with officials and public members yesterday attended the alms offering to 188 monks at the Khon Muang Plaza, Bangkok City Hall.

About 3,000 members of the public in Nan province offered alms to 189 monks at a public park on the banks of the Nan River, where they also organised a traditional boat race.

Resident Thanyalak Sripolpak said she was glad to have a chance to make merit along with others for the late King. In Prachin Buri’s Muang district, Governor Suriya Amornrojworawuth led 500 people to give alms to monks. In Ang Thong’s Muang district, Governor Weerawuth Putraseranee led officials and residents to offer dry food to 89 monks in front of city hall before releasing fish into the Chao Phraya River.

In Si Sa Ket’s Uthumporn Pisai district, provincial secretary Sarayuth Kaewkulpreecha joined officials and residents to sing the Royal Anthem and line up into the form of the Thai number “9” within a heart shape. They also stood still for 89 minutes in memory of the late monarch before joining rice harvesting at Ban Nong Khaen rice field.

Meanwhile, Samut Prakan Central Prison director Krit Wongwet presided over an event in which 2,560 prison officials and inmates sang a song titled “Botpleng Rak Haeng Phandin”, or “Love Song from the Land”, and the Royal Anthem before lining up to form the message “We love the King” and the Thai number “9” at the prison’s stadium.