Parliament will invite Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn to become the new king following the death of revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej last month, the president of the legislative body said on Tuesday. Pornpetch Wichitcholchai, president of the National Legislative Assembly, said in a televised session the prince would be invited to ascend the throne after the cabinet earlier on Tuesday formally asked parliament to begin the process of installing a new monarch.
Members of the assembly stood up during a short parliamentary session and shouted: “Long live the king!” The prince will have to accept parliament’s invitation in order for him to be proclaimed king, according to established procedure. Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan said: “We expect an audience [with the prince] within the next one to two days.”
Two senior military sources said Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn would fly into Bangkok on Wednesday from Germany, where he has a home. Reuters reported exclusively on Oct. 31 that Thailand was making preparations for the crown prince to ascend the throne on Dec. 1.
