Vajiralongkorn (วชิราลงกรณ)

Thai. ‘Adorned with a vajra’. Name of King Rama X, the only son and second child to King Bhumipon and Queen Sirikit. In 1972, at the age of 20, he became Crown Prince (fig.) with his full name and royal title in Thai becoming Somdet Phra Boromma Orasahthiraat Chao Fa Maha Vajiralongkorn Sayaam Makutratchakuman (สมเด็จพระบรมโอรสาธิราชเจ้าฟ้ามหาวชิราลงกรณสยามมกุฎราชกุมาร). He was born at Phra Tihnang Amphon Sathaan in Dusit Palace, on 28 July 1952. He is usually referred to as Maha Vajiralongkorn and in Thai his name is pronounced with a W rather than a V, i.e. Wachiralongkorn, akin to wachira. His personal flag as Crown Prince (fig.) consisted of a yellow field, for Monday, the colour of his birthday (see sih prajam wan), his initials M.V.K. (ม.ว.ก.), a chadah-style crown, i.e. the Great Crown of Victory, with underneath it a small chakra and trisula or vajra (fig.), referring to his name and his royal status as a member of the House of Chakri (fig.). His personal flag as King bears the initials V. P. R. (ว.ป.ร.) set in a circular fashion (fig.) and which stands for Vajiralongkorn Prom Rajatiraat (วชิราลงกรณ ปรมราชาธิราช), i.e. ‘Vajiralongkorn, Greatest King of Kings’. The yan-sign above the initials is fashioned with the Thai number 10 (๑๐), representing his crown title of Rama X (fig.) and replaces the small chakra and trident used on his flag as Crown Prince. At the age of 64, the designated heir became King Rama X, after accepting an invitation from parliament to succeed his father King Bhumipon, who died on 13 October 2016, thus ascending the throne on 1 December 2016, 50 days after the death of his father, who reigned for 70 years, yet the ascension is retroactive to October 13th. Rama X was officially crowned in 2019, with the coronation ceremony taking place in Bangkok from 4 to 6 May. The King is married to Queen Suthida (fig.), his fourth wife, who was made queen consort just days before his official coronation, on 1 May 2019. As King, his royal name and title are Somdet Phra Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodinthra Thephaya Warahngkoon (สมเด็จพระมหาวชิราลงกรณ บดินทรเทพยวรางกูร), which may also be transliterated Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun. See also THEMATIC STREET LIGHT (1) and (2). 回