Thailand celebrates new king with coronation ceremony

Thailand officially has a new king.

For the first time in seven decades, The New York Times reports, a new monarch took the country's throne. King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun was formally crowned in a coronation ceremony in Bangkok on Saturday. The 66-year-old, per Thai custom, is now considered a deity. The people of Thailand reportedly showed great enthusiasm for the event, chanting "long live the king."

The crown that King Maha Vajiralongkorn received reportedly weighs a hulking 16 pounds.

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Thailand's last coronation took place in 1950 when King Maha Vajiralongkorn's father, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, ascended the throne. He ruled until his death in 2016, making him one of the world's longest-standing monarchs.

"I shall continue, preserve, and build upon the royal legacy and shall reign with righteousness for the benefit and happiness of the people forever," King Maha Vajiralongkorn said during the coronation.

Read more at The New York Times.