Final rituals and pageantry as Thailand gears up for king's coronation

The coronation of Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn will be the first the country has seen in 69 years, since his father was crowned in 1950.

Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn pays homage to the Equestrian Statue of King Chulalongkorn in Bangkok. Source: AP

Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn is to pay his respects to one of Buddhism's most sacred relics, the Emerald Buddha, and later light an auspicious candle as he conducts the final rituals before his three days of coronation events.

The coronation, which takes place from Saturday to Monday, will be the first the country has seen in 69 years, since his father, the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, was crowned in 1950.

King Maha Vajiralongkorn, 66, is also known by the title of King Rama X. He became a constitutional monarch after the death of his revered father in October 2016, after 70 years on the throne.

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