BANGKOK (REUTERS) - Thailand's Cabinet on Tuesday (Nov 29) acknowledged the appointment of a new king, Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan said.

"After this, we enter the parliamentary process," he told reporters. "We expect an audience (with the prince) within the next one to two days."

According to procedure, the Cabinet, which meets once a week, will ask the president of parliament to invite Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn to become king. The Crown Prince will then have to accept the invitation in order for him to be proclaimed king.

The death of the much loved King Bhumibol Adulyadej on Oct 13 plunged the South-east Asian nation into mourning. Most Thais have known no other monarch.