Vajiralongkorn crowned as the new king of Thailand - Photos

Thailand has officially crowned its first new monarch for nearly 70 years.

Thailand's king Maha Vajiralongkorn on Saturday began undergoing a series of centuries-old Hindu and Buddhist ceremonies to symbolically transform him into a living god, as the country held its first coronation since 1950.

Events include a purification ritual with consecrated water, a crowning ceremony, a parade, and an appearance by the monarch on a balcony of the Grand Palace in the Thai capital, Bangkok.

King Vajiralongkorn, 66 — takes on the name Rama X of the Chakri dynasty as one of his many official titles — ascended the throne in 2016 upon the death of his father, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, in October of that year.

The coronation comes following a period of mourning for the late king, who reigned in the Southeast Asian country for almost 70 years.

In a traditional first royal command made after his crowning, the king said "I shall reign in righteousness for the benefits of the kingdom and the people forever."