Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn took everybody by surprise on Thursday when he declared he was not ready to become King Rama X and wanted time to mourn his father. The National Legislative Assembly, which had convened a special session to formally proclaim him king, was left with nothing to do. Members stood in silence for nine minutes, as a mark of respect to King Bhumibol Adulyadej who had died earlier the same day, and then the session ended. The mute assembly meeting aptly symbolised Thai political life under military rule.