Vajiralongkorn

Vajiralongkorn is the current King of Thailand, also known as Rama X. He is the tenth monarch of the Chakri dynasty. This dynasty has ruled Thailand since the year 1782.

As a monarch, he holds a position of great national importance. He is considered the wealthiest monarch in the world. His net worth is estimated to be between 1.5 billion and 2.5 billion U.S. dollars.

His path to the throne involved many years of specific training. He was born on July 28, 1952, in Bangkok. His father was King Bhumibol Adulyadej, and his mother was Queen Sirikit. In 1972, at the age of 20, his father named him crown prince. This role means he was the official heir to the throne.

He later spent time as a monk at Wat Phra Kaew for 15 days. During this time, he used the monastic name "Vajiralongkornno."

Vajiralongkorn received a diverse international education. He attended the Chitralada School in Bangkok before moving to the United Kingdom. He studied at King's Mead prep school and Millfield School in Somerset. In 1970, he traveled to Australia for military training at The King's School. He then enrolled at the Royal Military College, Duntroon, in Canberra.

He graduated in 1976 with a degree in military studies. He later earned a second bachelor's degree in law from Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University in 1982.

His military career is quite extensive and technical. He served as a staff officer in the Directorate of Army Intelligence. He also held leadership roles in the 4th Infantry Battalion and the Royal Security Command. Vajiralongkorn is a qualified military pilot. He is trained to fly the Northrop F-5, the F-16, and the Boeing 737-400.

While his roles have become more ceremonial recently, his background remains deeply rooted in the Royal Thai Army.

The transition of power occurred following the death of his father on October 13, 2016. Vajiralongkorn requested a delay in his formal accession to allow for a period of mourning. He officially accepted the throne on December 1, 2016. At age 64, he was the oldest person to ascend to the throne.

The Thai government retroactively stated his reign began on the day his father died. His formal coronation ceremony was held from May 4 to May 6, 2019.

Throughout his life, the King has supported several important social projects. He helped establish Crown Prince Hospitals in 21 different locations. These facilities provide international standard medical care to people in remote areas. He also supports the Mobile Agricultural Clinic Project. This project sends experts to help farmers with plants, livestock, and land development.

Additionally, he has a strong connection to the Rajabhat University system. It is estimated he has personally handed out at least 2,100,000 degrees to graduates over 35 years. He also donates 42 million baht every year to a scholarship fund.

Beyond his official duties, Vajiralongkorn has many personal interests. He was once called the "Football Prince" because he played the sport in England and Australia. He also enjoys horseback riding, rugby, and rowing. In recent years, he has been very active in cycling events.

Much of his adult life has been spent in Bavaria, Germany. While he is the King of Thailand, he often resides in Germany for personal reasons. This has led to changes in the Thai constitution regarding how the monarch governs when away from the country.