Thailand Coronation: King Vajiralongkorn vows to reign with 'righteousness' on behalf of the people

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02:13

We turn to Thailand, where King Vajiralongkorn has been officially crowned, as an elaborate three-day ceremony begins. CGTN's Tony Cheng has more from Bangkok.

This is the moment King Maha Vajiralongkorn truly ascended the throne. Bathed in sacred waters, collected from across Thailand, unified as it's poured over the body of the new monarch.

And this was just one of several ancient ceremonies that comprised the coronation. Taken from Thailand's brahmin traditions, it's majority Buddhist faith and more recent history, parades of loyal subjects moved around the Grand Palace in the sweltering heat.

The great crown of victory was not an easy fit, as the King placed it on his own head. He has been waiting on the sidelines for decades, while his father became the longest reigning monarch in the world.

But these ceremonies mark his full ascension to the Throne, in a country where the monarchy remains a powerful force. Around Bangkok, people dressed in yellow to show respect, watched the archaic rituals on huge LCD screens. This hasn't happened for over seventy years and for many it's a once in a lifetime event.

ANUSARA CHUENSUANG BANGKOK CITY OFFICIAL "Most of Thai citizens - how many time do you have a chance to have such a special ceremony like the coronation ceremony, like this one? So I think it's very important. As I said that the king is our heart of Thailand."

JAKARIN KERDCHOK STUDENT VOLUNTEER "I'm proud to be living in Thailand and to have a king taking care of us."

TONY CHENG BANGKOK "Today has been about ancient ceremonies and rites, the brahmin and Buddhist rituals that have transformed king Vajiralongkorn from a man into a god-king. But tomorrow is all about the people as the king takes to the streets in a procession around Bangkok and his subjects get a chance to see the man who will lead them into the future, Tony Cheng, CGTN, Bangkok."