48 Facts About Vajiralongkorn

1.

Vajiralongkorn is the only son of King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit.

2.

Vajiralongkorn accepted the throne on the night of 1 December 2016.

3.

Aged 64 at that time, Vajiralongkorn became the oldest Thai monarch to ascend to the throne.

4.

Vajiralongkorn is the wealthiest monarch in the world, with a net worth estimated to be between and.

5.

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

6.

Vajiralongkorn began his education in 1956 when he entered kindergarten at the Chitralada School in Dusit Palace.

7.

Vajiralongkorn graduated in 1976 as a new lieutenant with a liberal arts degree.

8.

Vajiralongkorn was proclaimed crown prince on 28 December 1972 at 12:23 in the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall, making him the third crown prince of the Chakri dynasty.

9.

Vajiralongkorn start his army careers to served as a staff officer in the Directorate of Army Intelligence and attended the Command and General Staff College in 1977.

10.

Vajiralongkorn officially opened the 2007 Southeast Asian Games, held in Nakhon Ratchasima.

11.

Vajiralongkorn established "Crown Prince Hospitals" through funds donated by the public to serve as medical and health care centers for people living in remote areas.

12.

Also interested in agricultural development, Vajiralongkorn has accepted the "Mobile Agricultural Clinic Project" under his patronage.

13.

Vajiralongkorn offers suggestions on tackling agricultural problems and applying agricultural technology to increase productivity and improvement in the quality of agricultural production.

14.

Aware of the importance of efficient agriculture for better productivity, Vajiralongkorn emphasized full-cycle agricultural activities, believing they will help improve farmers' quality of life, who are traditionally considered the backbone of the nation.

15.

Since becoming King himself Vajiralongkorn has presided over and participated in the ceremony in his own right.

16.

Vajiralongkorn has initiated education projects to improve children's access to quality learning and instill the concept of lifelong learning.

17.

Vajiralongkorn has special ties to the Rajabhat University system of 40 institutions of higher learning.

18.

The chairman of the Council of Rajabhat University Presidents of Thailand said that Vajiralongkorn has presided over commencement ceremonies at all Rajabhat Universities nationwide and personally handed out degrees to all Rajabhat university graduates every year since 1978.

19.

Vajiralongkorn was once known as the "Football Prince" but is known for his cycling involvement.

20.

Vajiralongkorn has shown keen interest in other sports since he was young.

21.

Vajiralongkorn learned horseback riding when he was about 11 years old and soon became a capable rider.

22.

Vajiralongkorn competed in sailing with King Bhumibol and sister Princess Ubolratana when they stayed at Klai Kangwon Palace in Hua Hin.

23.

In football, Vajiralongkorn first played as a forward and later became a center-back at Chitralada School, Millfield School in England, and the Royal Military College, Duntroon, in Australia.

24.

Vajiralongkorn has received visits from Thai officials and dignitaries in Germany.

25.

Vajiralongkorn became the first monarch to be born in Thailand since his great-uncle Prajadhipok died in 1935.

26.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said that the office of King Vajiralongkorn had asked for several changes to clauses related to royal power in the draft constitution, a rare intervention by a reigning Thai monarch.

27.

Vajiralongkorn has direct control over the royal household and palace security agencies.

28.

Vajiralongkorn's reign has been plagued by controversies unheard of during the reign of his predecessor.

29.

Vajiralongkorn's image is affected by his reputation as a philanderer.

30.

For most of 2020, Vajiralongkorn reportedly rented out the alpine Grand Hotel Sonnenbichl in Garmisch-Partenkirchen for himself and his entourage during the COVID-19 pandemic.

31.

Vajiralongkorn remained there during the nationwide protests and amidst a wave of anti-monarchy sentiments in Thailand, sparking controversy in both Thailand and Germany.

32.

Vajiralongkorn mentioned that the European state will be investigating his behavior during his stay in Germany.

33.

Vajiralongkorn is protected by one of the most strictly enforced lese majeste laws in the world.

34.

On 12 November 2009, a home video was released to WikiLeaks, showing Vajiralongkorn casually dressed and Princess Srirasmi Suwadee wearing only a G-string, all the while being attended to by several formally dressed servants, celebrating the birthday of the prince's poodle, Air Chief Marshal Fufu.

35.

Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn started living with actress Yuvadhida Polpraserth in the late 1970s and had five children with her.

36.

Vajiralongkorn was not able to refute the charges due to the prohibition against lese majeste.

37.

When Vajiralongkorn was introduced to Yuvadhida Polpraserth, she was an aspiring actress.

38.

Vajiralongkorn became his steady companion and gave birth to his first son, Prince Juthavachara Mahidol, on 29 August 1979.

39.

Vajiralongkorn later had three more sons and a daughter by her.

40.

Vajiralongkorn was commissioned as a major in the Royal Thai Army and took part in royal ceremonies with Vajiralongkorn.

41.

In 1996, two years after the wedding, Mom Sujarinee decamped to Britain with all her children, while Vajiralongkorn caused posters to be placed all around his palace accusing her of committing adultery with Anand Rotsamkhan, a 60-year-old air marshal.

42.

Vajiralongkorn was later elevated to the rank of princess, whilst Sujarinee and her sons were stripped of their diplomatic passports and royal titles.

43.

Vajiralongkorn married for a third time on 10 February 2001, to Srirasmi Suwadee, a commoner of modest background who had been in his service since 1992.

44.

Vajiralongkorn gave birth to a son, Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti, on 29 April 2005 and was then elevated to the rank of princess.

45.

Vajiralongkorn's son was immediately elevated to the rank of prince.

46.

In November 2014 Vajiralongkorn sent a letter to the interior ministry asking for Princess Srirasmi's family to be stripped of the royal name Akharaphongpreecha awarded to her, following allegations of corruption against seven of her relatives.

47.

On 1 May 2019, three days before his coronation, Vajiralongkorn married Suthida Tidjai, former acting commander of Royal Thai Aide-de-Camp Department.

48.

On 28 July 2019, Vajiralongkorn bestowed the title of "Chao Khun Phra" or Royal Noble Consort, and the royal name of Sineenat Wongvajirapakdi, to Major General Niramon Ounprom; the occasion marked the first official naming of a secondary consort for nearly a century.