Thais celebrate new king’s birthday by giving alms to monks, and printing new stamps
Royal affairs are highly sensitive in Thailand, where the monarchy has limited power on paper but wields vast influence behind the scenes
Monks gathered for a mass alms-giving ceremony and glittering commemorative stamps were issued on Friday as Thais marked the 65th birthday of King Maha Vajiralongkorn – his first as monarch of the politically febrile nation.
Vajiralongkorn took the throne late last year after the death of his deeply revered father, Bhumibol Adulyadej, who built up a cult-like following during his 70-year reign.
Thailand is still mourning Bhumibol’s death and Friday’s celebrations were muted compared to the parades and other festivities that marked the late king’s birthdays.
It was not clear whether Vajiralongkorn was in his kingdom for his birthday or abroad, where he spends much of his time.
The first day of the sales of the first stamp in the reign of King Rama X [Vajiralongkorn] ... was met with huge public interest
He did not attend an early morning religious ceremony outside Bangkok’s Royal Plaza, where more than 600 Buddhist monks lined up to receive alms from junta chief Prayuth Chan-ocha and other officials.
In other parts of the capital local businesses erected portraits of the new king while well-wishers lined up to get special edition postage stamps of the monarch.