His Majesty the King has presided over the Parade of the Royal Guards and Taking the Oath of Allegiance Ceremony at the Royal Plaza. The event, taking place on 3 December 2024, commemorated His Majesty’s 72nd birthday anniversary and was the first of its kind during his reign. The ceremony featured the Royal Guards from all three branches of the armed forces, displaying their discipline and loyalty to the monarchy.

Her Majesty the Queen led the Royal Guards as Commander of the Combined Guards Unit, while Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana Rajakanya participated as Commanding Officer of the Royal Horse Guards Regiment, leading the mounted battalion on “Fürst Henry,” a Dutch Warmblood horse. Other members of the royal family, including Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn and His Royal Highness Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti, attended the event from the royal pavilion.

The ceremony included His Majesty’s inspection of 11 battalions of Royal Guards, accompanied by salutes and the “Ratchawanlop” Royal Guards March composed by His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great. Troops from units such as the Royal Security Command, Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy, Royal Thai Naval Academy, and Navaminda Kasatriyadhiraj Royal Thai Air Force Academy presented their pledges of loyalty.

The Parade of the Royal Guards and Taking the Oath of Allegiance Ceremony has been an annual tradition since 1953, during the reign of King Rama IX. In 2019, a combined military and police parade was introduced during His Majesty the King’s coronation year. This longstanding military ceremony symbolizes the enduring bond between the Thai monarchy and its armed forces in their shared commitment to serving the nation and its people.