Vajiralongkorn

Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun, commonly known as Vajiralongkorn or Rama X, is the current King of Thailand. He was born on 28 July 1952 in Bangkok, the eldest son of King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX) and Queen Sirikit. He was educated in Thailand and abroad and pursued military training, eventually taking on senior roles within the Royal Thai Armed Forces. He was named Crown Prince in 1972, a title he held until his father’s death.

Vajiralongkorn ascended the Thai throne on 13 October 2016 following the death of King Bhumibol. His official coronation ceremony took place in May 2019 after a period of mourning and preparatory rites. As king, he has aimed to reinforce royal authority and has been closely associated with the Crown Property Bureau, the agency that manages the assets of the Thai monarchy. In 2017, legislation transferred control of the Crown Property Bureau’s assets directly to the Crown, increasing the king’s economic influence.

The reign has drawn attention for the king’s prominent role in royal affairs and for the concentration of wealth under the Crown Property Bureau, alongside ongoing debates about the monarchy’s role in Thai society and calls for constitutional reform. The king has been married several times and has children who are in the line of succession. His activities and the monarchy’s leverage remain subjects of public scrutiny within Thailand and abroad.