Thai king does not release anything about coronation

- More than two months after the pompous cremation ceremonies for King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the king of Thailand who died in 2016, the palace and junta have given no indication of the date on which the new king Vajiralongkorn is crowned.

The king also said nothing about it in his New Year's speech last Sunday. Juntal leader Prayut Chan-ocha today was mainly concerned with good reviews in the media. In a meeting with journalists on the first working day of the new year, he urged them to mainly promote the work of the government and put it in a positive light. He also said nothing about the coronation.

A coronation does not necessarily have to take place soon after the enthronement of the throne. In Queen Elizabeth, who came to the throne in February 1952 by the death of her father King George VI, a year and a half was awaited with the coronation. It finally took place in June 1953, so that sufficient time was also created for the necessary, thorough preparations.

In Thailand, the first time was taken to prepare the cremation. A crematorium specially designed for the occasion had to be set up at Sanam Luang, the royal cremation site next to the Grand Palace in Bangkok. That whole installation must also be removed again, after which the preparations for the coronation can be considered.

From a religious point of view, it is important to choose an opportune moment in which the celestial bodies are in the right constellation and all happiness figures and the like are correct. The junta reigning since 2014 will also want a suitable time, and then the king must agree.

There were no less than four years between the accession of King Bhumibol and his coronation. Though reasons for that length of time were also the age of the King who studied in Switzerland (18) and the politically unstable situation in Thailand.