Thailand’s crown prince has succeeded to the throne, following the death in October of his much-revered father, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who had reigned for 70 years.

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The monarch, who received the title “His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun”, assumed his position on Thursday, according to an announcement broadcast on television channels. He will also be known as Rama X, the 10th king in the Chakri dynasty that was founded in 1782.

A videotaped broadcast showed officials presenting the formal invitation to the 64-year-old prince to become king and then his acceptance. Red-jacketed courtiers looked on as a palace staff member shuffling on his knees presented the new king with a microphone through which he delivered his words of acceptance.

“I agree to accept the wishes of the late king … for the benefit of the entire Thai people,” Vajiralongkorn said.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Thai Buddhist monks hold a prayer ceremony for the accession of Vajiralongkorn. Photograph: Narong Sangnak/EPA

Buddhist temples across the country were asked to beat drums and gongs following his proclamation.

Vajiralongkorn’s father, Bhumibol, died aged 88 on 13 October after many years of ill health. In 1972, he had designated Vajiralongkorn, his second child and only son, as his successor.

Vajiralongkorn was originally expected to assume the throne the day his father died, but the prime minister, Prayuth Chan-ocha, said the prince had asked for the accession to be delayed so he would have time to mourn.

Thailand is a constitutional monarchy though under military rule, but Bhumibol played an important role in stabilising his country through a time of enormous change when neighbouring monarchies were collapsing under the pressures of the Vietnam war. He was known for his energy in development activities, conducting hands-on inspections in remote rural areas. He calmed the country through several political crises.

Vajiralongkorn faces the challenges of a country that has become fractured over the past 10 years as contending political forces have engaged in bitter battles that have sometimes turned violent, shaking faith in the democratic system.

The new king has a less intense interest in state affairs and a reputation as a playboy. He has been divorced three times and has seven children. In recent years, he has spent much of his time staying in Germany.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest King Bhumibol Adulyadej pictured in 2007 on his 80th birthday, with Queen Sirikit and Maha Vajiralongkorn, right. Photograph: AFP/Getty Images

Although most Thais are devoted to the royal institution, it is hard to gauge how they feel privately about Vajiralongkorn because of lèse-majesté laws that mandate a prison term of three to 15 years for anyone found guilty of insulting the monarchy.

On Thursday, the prince made his first public appearance in more than a week, attending a religious ceremony honouring his late father. He was accompanied by his three sisters, two adult daughters and 11-year-old son.

Shortly afterward, he talked to Prayuth, the national legislative assembly president, Pornpetch Wichitcholchai, the supreme court chief justice, Veerapol Tungsuwan, and the former prime minister Prem Tinsulanonda, who had been one of his Bhumibol’s closest advisers and served as regent in the interim after the king’s death.

On Tuesday, the cabinet, in line with a 1924 law on succession, had forwarded to the national legislative assembly the late king’s appointment of his son to succeed him. The assembly then acknowledged the appointment and its president issued the invitation to Vajiralongkorn to become king.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Mourners in October gathering outside the Grand Palace, Bangkok, after King Bhumibol’s death. Photograph: Wason Wanichakorn/AP

Huge crowds have been paying respects to the late king at the ceremonial grand palace. His body will be cremated in an elaborate ceremony that could take place a year or more after his death.

The official coronation of Vajiralongkorn will take place only after the cremation. Bhumibol’s coronation was in 1950, four years after succeeding his brother, King Ananda Mahidol, who died aged 20 from gunshot in unclear circumstances.