Earlier this year, city authorities in Bangkok erected gold-framed portraits showing the Crown Prince as a child with King Bhumibol, the pair wearing matching suit and ties. Others showed him as an adult standing next to his father.
"There are more portraits of the Crown Prince now than a few years ago," a palace source told Reuters in February. "This is not by chance, but it is a way to try to pre-empt any future instability."
Evening news bulletins on state television channels, which carry daily segments on the royal family, also have increasingly featured the prince — including coverage of his trips abroad and attendance at seminars, sporting events and fashion shows.
However, Vajiralongkorn does not appear to enjoy the same reverence as his father.
A Council for Foreign Relations paper in 2014 noted that he has "for decades acquired a reputation as an alleged hothead, womanizer, and poor decision-maker, in contrast to Bhumibol, who despite flaws has generally been a moderating influence on the kingdom.