After a long delay, Thailand now has a date for the coronation of his king Maha Vajiralongkorn: The ceremony is scheduled to take place from 4 to 6 May 2019, as the Royal Palace announced today.
The 66-year-old had already climbed the throne in December 2016, two months after the death of his father, long-time king Bhumibol Adulyadej. At that time, Vajiralongkorn had stated that his father had been mourning for not being promptly crowned. The now fixed date is historically significant: May 5 is the anniversary of his father’s coronation in 1950.
King is considered the world’s richest monarch
Vajiralongkorn is the father of five sons and two daughters. The threefold divorcee ascended the throne unmarried. With assets valued at $ 30 billion (€ 26 billion) by the Business Insider, Thailand’s king is considered the richest monarch in the world.
The king is head of state, but has little influence on the political daily business. Before the coronation, in the country, which has been led by a military government since the coup in 2014, there will be a general election on 24 February for the first time after more than seven years. It is expected that the current head of government, General Prayut Chan-o-cha (64), will remain in office.
