Thai crown prince proclaimed king

By Arun Saronchai

BANGKOK (AA) - Thailand’s Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn accepted parliament's invitation and officially ascended to the throne of Thailand late Thursday.

The procedure for royal succession began Tuesday when a cabinet motion was sent to parliament asking for the procedure to begin.

In a televised address, Vajiralongkorn accepted the invitation.

"I officially accept this invitation for the betterment of the Thai people," Vajiralongkorn said.

Vajiralongkorn had asked for time to mourn King Bhumibol Adulyadejr -- who died Oct. 13 at the age of 88 after a long illness -- before he assumed the crown.

He does not, however, enjoy the same popularity as his father, whose 70-year reign was seen as a controlling factor in the kingdom's turbulent political history.

One of the first tasks for the newly crowned monarch will be to endorse a constitution drafted by Thailand’s military government which will pave the way for elections in 2017.