Thais unite to celebrate King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s 72nd birthday

Thais are preparing to celebrate His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua’s 72nd birthday at the end of this month. Citizens across the nation are showing their loyalty and extending their best wishes to the monarch.

King Maha Vajiralongkorn was born on July 28, 1952, at the Ambara Villa in Dusit Palace, Bangkok. He is the only son of King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great, known as King Rama IX, and Queen Sirikit the Queen Mother. His early education took place at Chitralada School within the palace grounds.

An enthusiastic football player in his youth, the young prince trained regularly after school and eventually formed a team. During provincial visits, he often brought his team along to engage in friendly matches with residents.

His education continued abroad in the UK at King’s Mead School in Sussex and Millfield School in Somerset. He later attended King’s School, Parramatta in Sydney, Australia, where he underwent cadet training from 1970 to 1971.

At 20 years old, Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn was named Crown Prince by his father and declared heir to the throne. The traditional investiture ceremony took place in the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall on December 28, 1972. That same year, he attended Canberra’s Royal Military College, Duntroon, and later pursued a Bachelor of Arts at the University of New South Wales’ faculty for military studies, which collaborated with Duntroon to offer courses in arts, science, and engineering.

Graduation required success in both military and academic studies, and Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn completed his degree in 1976. For the first ten months of that year, he received a Defence Ministry scholarship for further military training with the Special Air Service Regiment in Perth, Western Australia.

Crown Prince

As a skilled military pilot with extensive flying experience, he expanded his expertise to commercial aviation. The Crown Prince earned a commercial pilot’s licence from the Civil Aviation Training Centre and qualified to fly a Boeing 737-400.

Following the death of his father on October 13, 2016, the Crown Prince was expected to ascend the throne immediately. However, he requested a period of mourning before accepting the role. On December 1, 2016, Gen. Prem. Tinsulanonda, then the regent, along with the heads of the country’s three branches of government, invited the Crown Prince to become the new king. He accepted the invitation and assumed the title of King Rama X of the Chakri Dynasty.

King Maha Vajiralongkorn upon accepting the throne said…

“I am aware of the duty and the great responsibility that comes with being the king.”

Thailand now looks forward to celebrating the king’s birthday, a day marked by unity and reverence for the monarch, reported Bangkok Post.