THE Thai king Maha Vajiralongkorn capped off his coronation year yesterday with a royal procession on the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok which involved 52 decorated barges and 2200 oarsmen.
The ceremony, seen as a showcase of royal traditions and reverence to the monarchy, winds up a year of the new king brandishing his authority.
The monarch, together with Queen Suthida and Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti, 14, boarded a century-old barge bearing the figurehead of a swan-like mythical creature while other royal family members followed in separate vessels.
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Since the king, 67, came to the throne following the death of his father in 2016, many of his moves have been seen as attempts to increase his influence over the country’s administration.
He revived ancient traditions such as the king’s ownership over public assets and assumed direct control of some key military units as well as the governing body of Buddhist monks.
Authorities estimated that over 10,000 Thais and tourists attended the event which provided free food and transport.
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