WESmile Magazine May 2019

THE KING OF THAI PEOPLE LONG LIVE THE KING THAI Smile Airways Company Limited and WE Smile <strong>Magazine</strong> Join in Our Nation’s Joy on the Auspicious Occasion of the Coronation of King Rama X B.E. 2562 (<strong>2019</strong>) On 13 October 2016, His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej Borommanathbobitra passed away. According to Section 2, Paragraph 2 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand (Interim), B.E. 2557 (2014), and Section 23, Paragraph 1 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand, B.E. 2550 (2007), the succession to the throne was stated as follows. In case the throne is vacant and the monarch has appointed the heir to the throne in accordance with the Palace Law on Succession B.E. 2467 (1924), the cabinet shall inform the President of the National Assembly who will then convene a parliamentary meeting to inform all members. Then the President of the National Assembly invites the heir to throne to ascend the throne as King of Thailand. In this regard, on 1 December 2016, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn granted an audience with Regent, Gen Prem Tinsulanonda, at the Ambara Villa inside Dusit Palace. The Regent was accompanied by President of the National Assembly Pornpetch Wichitcholchai; Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha; and Supreme Court President Weerapol Tangsuwan. They attended the audience to invite Maha Vajiralongkorn to ascend the throne. His Majesty the King is the only son of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej Borommanathbobitra (Rama IX) and Her Majesty Queen Sirikit. The King was born on 28 July 1952 at the Ambara Villa in the grounds of Dusit Palace. Somdet Phra Wachirayanawong of Wat Bowonniwet Vihara (who later became Somdet Phra Sangkharat Chao Kromma Luang Wachirayanawong, the Supreme Patriarch of Thailand) gave a name to him at birth: “Somdet Phrachao Lukya Thoe Chaofah Vajiralongkorn Borommachakrayadit Santatiwong Thevejthamrong Suboriban Aphikhunuprakarn Mahittaladuladej Bhumibol Nareswarangkrun Kittisirisombunsawanghawat Boromkhuttiyarajakuman.” The King has 1 older sister, Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya Sirivadhana Barnavadi, and 2 younger sisters, Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Rathasimagunakornpiyajat Sayamboromrajakumari and Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn Valayalaksana Agrarajakumari. The King began his education at Chitralada School in the grounds of Dusit Palace until his completion of Matthayom 1. Since a young age, he had shown interest in military affairs and often accompanied his father, Rama IX, during the latter’s visits to inspect and learn military issues of the Royal Thai Armed Forces. During these royal visits, he was concerned about the wellbeing of border patrol soldiers and