Vajiralongkorn

"Rama X" redirects here. For the Indian ruler of the Kingdom of Cochin, see Rama Varma X.

  • Vajiralongkorn
  • วชิราลงกรณ
King Rama X
Formal portrait, 2017
King of Thailand
Reign13 October 2016 – present[a]
Coronation4 May 2019
PredecessorBhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX)
Heir presumptiveDipangkorn Rasmijoti[3]
Born (1952-07-28) 28 July 1952 (age 72)
Bangkok, Thailand
Spouse
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​
(m. 1977; div. 1991)​
​
​
(m. 1994; div. 1996)​
​
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(m. 2001; div. 2014)​
​
​
(m. 2019)​
​
​
(m. 2019)​
Issue
Detail
Names
Phrabat Somdet Phra Poramenthra Ramathibodi Sisinthara Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Wachiraklao Chao Yu Hua
HouseMahidol (Chakri dynasty)[b]
FatherBhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX)
MotherSirikit Kitiyakara
ReligionTheravada Buddhism
Signature
Military career
AllegianceKingdom of Thailand
Branch
Years of service1977–present
Commands

Vajiralongkorn[c] (born 28 July 1952) is King of Thailand since 2016. He is the tenth monarch of Thailand from the Chakri dynasty, titled Rama X.

The only son of King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX) and Queen Sirikit, he was made crown prince by his father in 1972, at the age of 20. After his father's death on 13 October 2016, he was expected to ascend to the Thai throne but asked for time to mourn before taking the throne.[4] He accepted the throne on the night of 1 December 2016. His coronation took place from 4–6 May 2019.[5] The Thai government retroactively declared his reign to have begun on 13 October 2016, upon his father's death.[6] Aged 64 at that time, Vajiralongkorn became the oldest Thai monarch to ascend to the throne.[7] He is the wealthiest monarch in the world,[8] with a net worth estimated to be between US$30 billion[9] and US$70 billion.[10]

  1. ^ "Vajiralongkorn ascends the throne as King Rama X". Khaosod English. 2 December 2016. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
  2. ^ Paddock, Richard (1 December 2016). "New King for Thailand as Crown Prince, Vajiralongkorn, Ascends to Throne". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 3 December 2016. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
  3. ^ Turner, Paige (25 November 2019). "5 things to know about Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti, son of Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn". South China Morning Post.
  4. ^ "Thai Prime Minister Prayuth says Crown Prince seeks delay in proclaiming him King". Coconut.co. Bangkok: Coconuts BKK. Agence France-Presse. 13 October 2016. Archived from the original on 14 October 2016. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  5. ^ "Coronation of HM King Maha Vajiralongkorn to be held May 4–6: palace". The Nation. Agence France-Presse. 1 January 2019. Archived from the original on 1 January 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  6. ^ Paddock, Richard C. (1 December 2016). "New King for Thailand as Crown Prince, Vajiralongkorn, Ascends to Throne". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 11 April 2017. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
  7. ^ "Maha Vajiralongkorn – King of Thailand". Archived from the original on 3 November 2016. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  8. ^ Baker, Chris; Phongpaichit, Pasuk (7 April 2022). A History of Thailand. Cambridge University Press. p. 362. ISBN 978-1-009-03418-0.
  9. ^ Hoffower, Hillary (17 July 2019). "Meet the 10 richest billionaire royals in the world right now". Business Insider. Archived from the original on 26 September 2019. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  10. ^ Thailand protests: How much is the king worth? | Counting the Cost. Al Jazeera English. 30 January 2021. Starts at 7:23. Archived from the original on 30 October 2021.


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