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Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej was pronounced dead on Thursday after years of grave illnesses, leaving the throne to Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn.
**The the world's longest-reigning monarch for the last 70 years died in quiet manner
**
The Bureau of the Royal Household announced that the 88-year-old monarch died in quiet manner at 3:52 p.m. (0852 GMT) at Siriraj hospital where he had been diagnosed with critical ailments since the last several years.
King Bhumibol, or King Rama IX of the Chakri dynasty, who had been the world's longest-reigning monarch for the last 70 years, is survived by 63-year-old Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, who is to be officially proclaimed King Rama X.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha called on the Thai people to mourn the king's death for one full year and Thai flags will fly at half-mast for one month beginning on Friday.
The Thai people's greatest losses
"Today is one of the Thai people's greatest losses since the day King Rama VIII passed away," the premier said in a nationwide broadcast statement, referring to King Ananda Mahidol, King Bhumibol's elder brother, who died at the age of 21.
King Bhumibol, who rose to the throne in 1946, was son of Prince Mahidol Adulyadej and Princess Srinagarindra. He was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the United States in 1927.
The then-Prince Bhumibol grew up in Lausanne, Switzerland before he accompanied his elder brother, King Ananda Mahidol or King Rama VIII, to Thailand in 1928.
The late monarch was dubbed King of Agriculture as he was widely known for his initiatives on the agricultural and irrigational sector, which were formulated into some 4,000 development projects throughout the country during the last several decades.
He was as well noted for initiating the so-called sufficiency economy, which was not only promoted in Thailand but also in other developing countries.
The late king's pictures and drawings were seen along the roads, in the government premises and the houses of many villagers throughout the country.
Many projects implemented by successive Thai governments, as well as by the private sector, had been implemented under guidelines and initiatives of the late king, particularly those involving agricultural and irrigational measures and rainmaking technology for drought-affected areas in the country.
Crown Prince asks for appropriate time to be enthroned
Prince Vajiralongkorn, King Bhumibol's only son, was named Crown Prince, the heir apparent to the throne in 1972 in accordance with the Palace Law.
Thai prime minister Prayut Chan-o- cha said late Thursday that the Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn had asked for time to mourn his father before being enthroned.
Prayut said he met with the Crown Prince at dusk Thursday to reporters in government house.
"He (Prince Vajiralongkorn) is already the heir apparent, but he asked time to grieve and to mourn his father with people around the country first," said Prayut.
He added that the crown prince asked for an appropriate time in the future to be enthroned.
Prayut also said that the country is in a most important period, thus they have to make everything in order.
During an earlier TV address shortly after the palace statement proclaiming King's death, Prayut said the successor to the throne was decided in December 1972, and the procedure for enthroning the new king will move on.
According to Thai constitution, when the throne becomes vacant and the King has already appointed his Heir under the 1924 Palace Law on Succession, the cabinet shall notify the Parliament president, who will convene members for acknowledgement.
National Legislative Assembly (NLA), which serves as an interim parliament in place of the parliament dissolved by the junta in 2014, held an urgent meeting at around 21:30 Thursday.
NLA president Pornpetch Wichitcholchai just said they will move on according to the constitution and the Palace Law and there will be no general meeting until the Palace Law set procedure is finished.
(APD)
