Today, and for the next 2 days, there is the coronation ceremony for the new Thai King, Rama X. His proper name is Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayayavarangkun. (Yes, it’s a mouthful.) Moreover, a few days ago, he also married his fourth wife, Suthida Vajiralongkorn Na Ayutthay. (Also a mouthful.) It’s been a busy week in Thailand.
This is the first coronation since 1950. I thought the Bangkok Blog should at least record this event. There has been a lot of coverage of the occasion and the activities leading up to it. I’m sure there will be much more. If you’re interested, here is a picture gallery of the coronation from the BBC and here’s an article from the Guardian. Finally, there is a short video below, again from the Guardian, showing part of the actual coronation.
By the way, the crown he’s wearing weighs a mighty 7.3 kg (16 lbs.). That’s pretty heavy.
I don’t have much to say about the coronation, the marriage, the king or much of anything else. However, I thought that it was important to at least mark the event.
A good post. Thanks for the links. Leads one to ponder the degree to which the various monarchies of the world blend with the democratic institutions of the populace, while the autocrats, royal or not, choose their own paths of hostility.
They don’t. Blend that is.