Thai Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn to be proclaimed as new king

The Thai parliament said on Tuesday that Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn is to become the king of Thailand during a televised meeting.

Pornpetch Wichitcholchai, president of the National Legislative Assembly, said late King Bhumibol Adulyadej had designated the crown prince as his heir apparent, thus the parliament formally invited the prince to be proclaimed as the king.

Sources inside the parliament told Xinhua on Tuesday that Pornpetch is going to invite the crown prince to formally ascend the throne on Thursday.

At the end of the meeting, all members of the parliament stood up and hailed together "long live the new king."

Pornpetch Wichitcholchai(C), president of the Thai National Legislative Assembly, speaks during a parliament meeting in Bangkok, capital of Thailand, Nov. 29, 2016. Photo: Xinhua

Deeply revered Adulyadej died on Oct. 13 at the age of 88 after years of illness.

Vajiralongkorn, 64, was appointed the crown prince by his father in 1972.

The crown prince still needs to accept the invitation in order for him to be formally proclaimed as the king, according to established procedure.

Thai Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan said earlier in the day that "we expect an audience (with the prince) within the next one to two days."

Once proclaimed king, the crown prince would become King Rama X, or the 10th king of the Chakri dynasty founded in 1782, though his formal coronation will not happen before his father's royal cremation later next year.

For the royal cremation, a funeral pyre is going to be built soon, said the government.

(APD)