The King of Thailand and his connections to Parramatta

His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun

The Royal Family, 1966. Vajiralongkorn standing far right.

His Royal Highness Vajiralongkorn Mahidol was born on 28 July 1952 in Bangkok. He is the first son and second child of Queen Sirikit and King Bhumibol Adulyadej, with an older sister, Princess Ubolratana, and two younger sisters, Princess Sirindhorn and Princess Chulabhorn.

Image from The King’s School Magazine – Easter 1971



Vajiralongkorn began his education in 1956, when he entered kindergarten at the Chitralada School. After completing grade seven, he was sent to the United Kingdom for his secondary school education. He completed his secondary education in July 1970. In August 1970, he moved to Australia to finish high school. He was enrolled in The King’s School, Parramatta. He played in The King’s School 1 Soccer team in 1971.

Thailand – Crown Prince of Thailand celebrates 21st birthday in Canberra (Crowther, 1973. Source: National Archives of Australia)

After leaving The King’s School in 1972, he continued his education at the Royal Military College, Duntroon in Canberra, Australia. His education at Duntroon was divided into two parts, military training by the Australian Army and a bachelor's degree course at the University of New South Wales. He graduated in 1976 as a newly commissioned lieutenant with an arts degree. He left Army in December 1975 as a Corporal to get trained at the Special Air Service Regiment in Perth. He left Australia for Thailand in October 1976 and served in the Royal Thai Armed Forces. He is a qualified military pilot and helicopter pilot.

Thailand – Crown Prince of Thailand at Duntroon, 1972. (Source: National Archives of Australia)

He was very concerned about the medical care of the Thai people living in remote areas. He established 21 "Crown Prince Hospitals" in various remote locations in 1977. These hospitals became community hospitals providing services of international standard to the general public by 2011.

He is very passionate about education and every year he donates 42 million baht to a scholarship fund benefiting students.

In 2015, he led thousands of people in mass bicycling events in Bangkok and nationwide to honor the birthdays of his parents, Queen Sirikit and King Bhumibol.

King Vajiralongkorn has been married three times. One of his daughter is a well-known fashion designer in Thailand.

After the death of his father at the age of 88, Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn completed his ascension to the throne as King Rama X of Thailand. He is now officially known as His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun. The Thai people will mostly refer to him as King Rama X. Vajiralongkorn, 64 years old, became the oldest Thai monarch to ascend to the throne.