Thailand's new king appoints a smaller council of advisers

Among those removed through the contraction of the council are the director of the crown property bureau, the former chief of navy, a former deputy chief of the military supreme command, former officials, a former diplomat and a businessman.

Thailand is a constitutional monarchy, but Bhumibol played an important role during his 70-year reign in stabilizing the country through a time of enormous change that saw neighboring monarchies collapse under the pressures of the Vietnam War.

Vajiralongkorn faces the challenges of a country in which democracy has struggled to take root amid frequent coups, ostensibly to control corruption and pull political factions away from their bitter battles.