Newly crowned Thai king carried through Bangkok in royal procession
First new monarch in Thailand in 70 years
Bangkok — Thailand’s newly crowned King Maha Vajiralongkorn began a royal procession around the capital on Sunday to visit Buddhist temples and greet his subjects as part of elaborate coronation ceremonies held over three days. “Long live the king!” shouted well-wishers who lined roads for hours under Bangkok's blazing sun, hoping for a glimpse of the constitutional monarch who is revered in Thai culture as a living deity. King Vajiralongkorn was carried through the streets by 16 men bearing his gilded palanquin. The monarch was clad in gold-embroidered vestments and wearing the same black military-style hat that his father wore at his coronation 69 years ago. Conch shell horns heralded the parade, which was accompanied by two horseback cavalry soldiers, a military marching band and royal guards in a mixture of ancient Thai and modern Western-style uniforms. Spectators all wearing yellow, the colour associated with the king, gathered from early morning along the 7km route from the ...
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