<strong>Thai</strong>land has entered a new chapter in history as His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn acceded to the throne on December 1, 2016. Words: Anjira Assavanonda The proclamation for our new King came seven weeks after the passing of his much-revered father, His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world’s longest reigning monarch. A formal invitation from parliament began the accession process, concluding with a ceremony at the Dusit Palace in Bangkok. The Crown Prince, 64, accepted the invitation from the Head of the National Legislative Assembly and agreed to become King. He is now King Rama X, the tenth sovereign of the Chakri Dynasty with the official title “His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun.” <strong>Thai</strong> Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha announced to the nation that the heir to the throne graciously accepted the invitation. “I would like to accept (the invitation) in order to fulfill His Majesty’s wishes and for the benefit of all <strong>Thai</strong>s,” the new King stated. “A kingdom should not be without a monarch on the throne,” said Gen Prayuth, announcing the commencement of the new reign to begin on October 13, 2016. His Majesty as A Young Boy His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun was born on July 28, 1952 at Ambara Villa of Dusit Palace. He is the only son of His Majesty the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Her Majesty Queen Sirikit. The 13th Supreme Patriarch of the Rattanakosin era gave the newborn prince his first name as “Somdej Phra Chao Luk Ya Ter Chaofa Vajiralongkorn Boromchakrayadisorn Santatiwong Thewetthamrongsuboribal Abhikkunupakornmahitaladulyadej Bhumibolnaretwarangkun Kittisirisombunsawangwat Boromkhattiyarajakuman.” As a child, His Majesty had been neat and orderly, who always respected rules and regulations. Whenever he saw a sign indicating “Shoes Off First”, the young prince would immediately follow instructions. His sense of discipline grew stronger as he grew up. He developed a fondness for military affairs at an early age. As a young prince, he often visited the military garrison and asked questions to those in the services as he inspected their uniforms and orderliness. His Majesty once asked his father, the late monarch, to build a small mock-up military camp in the palace. He spent a lot in this camp, either cooking for himself or enjoying meals with those around him. On December 28, 1972, at the auspicious time of 12:23 pm, in accordance to a centuries-old tradition in the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall, he was proclaimed Crown Prince. As he accepted the title, the Crown Prince gave his oath to the people and promised, “I will perform my duties to the best of my intelligence and ability, and also with devotion, for the peace and prosperity of <strong>Thai</strong>land.” His Education His Majesty King Rama X received his early education at Chitralada School in the Dusit Palace, followed by King’s Mead School in Seaford, Sussex, and continued on to Millfield School in Somerset, Great Britain. Because he had always expressed a strong interest in military affairs, the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej approved the Crown Prince’s attendance at a military course at the King’s School in Sydney, Australia in 1970. In 1972, he entered the Royal Military College, Duntroon in Canberra, Australia. The two-part curriculum had a military training course designed by the Australian Army and a bachelor’s degree under the supervision of the University of New South Wales. He graduated from the college in 1976 with the rank of lieutenant and a degree in liberal arts. Training programmes in special forces, demolition, unconventional warfare tactics and advanced aviation training in Australia and the United States enhanced His Majesty’s military background. His Military and Aviation Skills Through intensive flight training, His Majesty became a qualified military pilot and gained recognition as “the first fighter jet pilot prince” of the Chakri Dynasty. After returning to <strong>Thai</strong>land, he served as a career officer in the Royal <strong>Thai</strong> Army and attended the Command and General Staff College in 1977. He also served as a staff officer in the Directorate of Army Intelligence, and in 1978, became head of the King’s Personal Bodyguard Battalion. With expertise in aviation, His Majesty used his knowledge to develop a flight training curriculum and also helped train pilots in the Royal <strong>Thai</strong> Air Force on modern flight techniques. His Majesty also enrolled in a Commercial Pilot Licence Course at the Civil Aviation Training Centre. In 2005, he earned his wings as a pilot for the Boeing 737-400, and received a pilot certificate from the Department of Civil Aviation. In May 2009, he celebrated 3,000 hours of commercial flight time on the Boeing 737-400. Prior to His Majesty’s accession to the throne, he held the ranks of General in the Royal <strong>Thai</strong> Army, Admiral in the Royal <strong>Thai</strong> Navy and Air Chief Marshal in the Royal <strong>Thai</strong> Air Force. Upholder of the Buddhist Religion His Majesty strongly upholds the tenets of Buddhism. On November 6, 1978, he was ordained as a monk at the age of 26, with a ceremony at the ordination hall of the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. He was given the name “Vajiralongkornno” and went on to stay at Wat Bovoranives Vihara for 15 days, during which His Majesty devoted himself to Buddhist studies. He also went out for alms in many places and strictly followed Buddhist practices as a monk. Over the years as Crown Prince, His Majesty accompanied his father, the late King Bhumibol, to several religious events. When King Bhumibol took on fewer public engagements because of frail health, the Crown Prince stepped in to perform religious rituals on his behalf. In his show of commitment to the <strong>Thai</strong> people, we wish His Majesty a blessed and prosperous reign.