Thai military swears allegiance to king Maha Vajiralongkorn at parade

Thailand's king presided over an oath-taking ceremony Saturday at an army base where almost 7,000 soldiers and police paraded to mark Armed Forces Day. King Maha Vajiralongkorn's presence at the ceremony was unusual, as Thai monarchs have rarely if ever, attended the occasion, even though the royal palace and the military are closely linked. Queen Suthida and the king's oldest daughter, Princess Bajrakitiyabha, also attended.

The government announced that the ceremony was not only to mark Armed Forces Day but also to honour the king's coronation, which took place last year. Vajiralongkorn gave his thanks for their oath of allegiance and said he hoped they would all keep their promise to work for the benefit of the nation and the people. The monarchy and the military are the two most powerful institutions in Thailand, and exercise a major influence over the country's fragile democracy, evidenced most recently by coups the army staged in 2006 and 2014.