Vajiralongkorn

Vajiralongkorn (born 28 July 1952), also known by his regnal name Rama X, is King of Thailand, reigning since 2016. He is the 10th monarch of the Chakri dynasty, the reigning dynasty of Thailand since 1782.

The only son of King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX) and Queen Sirikit, he was made crown prince by his father in 1972, at age 20. After his father's death on 13 October 2016, he requested that his formal accession ceremony be delayed to allow time to mourn his father. On 1 December 2016, he formally accepted the throne and, at age 64, the oldest to ascend to the throne. The government retroactively declared his reign to have begun at his father's death on 13 October 2016. His coronation took place from 4 to 6 May 2019.

Vajiralongkorn is the wealthiest monarch in the world, with an estimated net worth between US$30 billion and US$70 billion.

Early life and education

Vajiralongkorn was born on 28 July 1952 at 17:45 in the Amphorn Sathan Residential Hall of the Dusit Palace in Bangkok.

Vajiralongkorn began his education in 1956 when he entered kindergarten at the Chitralada School in Dusit Palace. After completing Mathayom 1 (grade seven), he was educated at private schools in the United Kingdom, first at King's Mead prep school, Seaford, Sussex, and later at Millfield School in Somerset, where he completed his secondary education in July 1970. In August 1970, he attended a five-week military training course at The King's School in Sydney, Australia.