World

Coronation of Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn set for May 4

01 of January 2019

FILE - In this May 29, 2018, file photo, Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn, center, holds a candle light during Wesaka Bucha, at Emerald Buddha temple Bangkok. Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn will have his official coronation on May 4. Vajiralongkorn in 2016 succeeded his father, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who died at age 88 after reigning for seven decades. The palace announcement Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019, said the coronation ceremonies for 66-year-old Vajiralongkorn will be held on May 4-6, with the monarch making a public appearance on the last day.(The Nation/Pool Photo via AP, File),FILE - In this May 29, 2018, file photo, Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn, center, holds a candle light during Wesaka Bucha, at Emerald Buddha temple Bangkok. Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn will have his official coronation on May 4. Vajiralongkorn in 2016 succeeded his father, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who died at age 88 after reigning for seven decades. The palace announcement Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019, said the coronation ceremonies for 66-year-old Vajiralongkorn will be held on May 4-6, with the monarch making a public appearance on the last day.(The Nation/Pool Photo via AP, File)

BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn will have his official coronation on May 4.

Vajiralongkorn in 2016 succeeded his father, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who died at age 88 after reigning for seven decades.

The palace announcement Tuesday said the coronation ceremonies for 66-year-old Vajiralongkorn will be held on May 4-6, with the monarch making a public appearance on the last day.

Bhumibol’s coronation, held almost four years after he was named king, took place in 1950 on May 5, a date that is a public holiday in Thailand.