In May, 1851, the king was formally inducted into his regal office under the title Prabat Somdetch Pra Paramender Maha Mongkut. The accession was celebrated with prolonged festivities. The coronation was private, witnessed only by the princes and nobles. After an interval of a few days came the more public ceremony of enthronement, and to this the Europeans were invited: “We all (except of course the ladies) had the honour of being present by his own invitation. Indeed we had a regular audience from His Majesty; a strange and not a little imposing scene it was in that audience hall of the palace. A dinner was prepared for us after the European style, and though ‘he could not shake hands with us as he desired—Siamese custom not allowing it,’ yet he sent some substantial proof of his regard in the shape of a gold flower and one of silver, together with a gold salung (value one-fourth eagle) and other specimens of the coinage of the new reign. “You will understand how marked are these attentions when you are told that no missionary was ever before on any occasion admitted within the walls of the palace, much less allowed to have an audience.... We were told from the throne in a public audience by the King himself (who perfectly understands our object in coming to his land) that he wished us to find ourselves pleasantly situated in his country and to go on with our pursuits as we have been doing—‘Fear not!’ he added. That was the purport of what he said, and though he was addressing merchants as well as ourselves we knew he must have had us in mind as much as them.” Then came the spectacular procession of the king and nobles around the walls of the palace: “According to immemorial custom on coronation occasions, H. M., with his nobles and princes in grand procession, marched around the walls of the royal palace, a mile in circumference. We missionaries with the other Europeans received special invitations to be present.... As the King came along, with pomp and glitter and display of wealth, sitting high on his throne carried by thirty-two men, he was distributing right and left to the crowds showers of silver coins. When he saw us he stopped to rain silver upon us with a right good will.” A month later occurred the inauguration of Chao Fah Noi as Second or Vice-King. A public pageant only slightly less magnificent was given, and again the missionaries with the Europeans were personally invited and honoured with special attention.