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His coronation took place on Wednesday, November 11, 1868, being the day decided upon by the Brahman astrologers as the one most propitious. At this coronation there was a slight innovation upon the usual Siamese custom. No European had ever before witnessed the coronation ceremonies of any king of Siam. The late king, after his coronation, wrote a private note to some of his European friends stating that he would have been glad to have had them present, but "state reasons forbade the presence of foreigners."
SOMDETCH CHOWFA CHULALANGKORN.
The number of Europeans present at the coronation proper of the present king were few,
