Bhumibol Adulyadej

King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX)

King Bhumibol Adulyadej: His current public image as seen on billboards all over Thailand
Reign	June 9, 1946 - Present
Coronation	May 5, 1950
Predecessor	King Ananda Mahidol (Rama VIII)
Heir Apparent	HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn
Spouse	Queen Sirikit
Issue	Princess Ubol Ratana HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn HRH Princess Chulabhorn Walailak
Royal House	Chakri Dynasty
Father	Mahidol Adulyadej, Prince of Songkla
Mother	Sangwal, the Princess Mother
Born	December 5, 1927 Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States

King Bhumibol Adulyadej, officially styled "the Great" (Thai: ภูมิพลอดุลยเดช; IPA: pʰu:mipʰon adunjadeːd; listen^ⓘ) (born December 5, 1927), also known as King Rama IX and the Ninth Rama, has been King of Thailand since 9 June 1946. He is the world's longest-serving Head of State.

Early life

Bhumibol was born at Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in the United States, the youngest son of Mahidol Adulyadej, Prince of Songkhla (son of King Chulalongkorn) and Mom Sangwal (later Somdej Phra Sri Nakarindhara Boromaratchachonnani). At the time of birth, he was known in Thailand as Phra Worawongse Ther Phra Ong Chao Bhumibol Adulyadej (พระวรวงศ์เธอ พระองค์เจ้าภูมิพลอดุลยเดช), reflecting the fact that his mother was a commoner. Had he been born just a few years earlier, before his uncle King Prajadhipok passed a law allowing children of a prince and a commoner to be called Phra Ong Chao (a prince of a lesser status than Chao Fa), he would have been called Mom Chao (the most junior class of the Thai princes), similar to his older brother and sister.

Bhumibol was brought back to Thailand in 1928, after Prince Mahidol finished his medical study at Harvard University. After primary schooling at the Mater Dei school in Bangkok, in 1933 he left with the rest of his family for Switzerland, where he continued his secondary education at the École Nouvelle de la Suisse romande, in Chailly-sur-Lausanne, and received the baccalauréat de lettres (high-school diploma with major in French literature, Latin, and Greek) from the Gymnase classique cantonal of Lausanne. He was studying science at the University of Lausanne when his elder brother, Phra Ong Chao Ananda Mahidol, was crowned King of Thailand. King Ananda Mahidol then elevated his brother and sister to the Chao Fa status (the most senior class of the Thai princes) in 1935. They came to Thailand briefly in 1938, but returned for further study to Switzerland, where they stayed until 1945.

Succession

Bhumibol succeeded to the throne following the death of his brother King Ananda Mahidol on June 9, 1946, in what was officially described as an accidental shooting at the Royal Palace in Bangkok. Bhumibol's intense sorrow at loss of his idolized brother was expressed in a personal letter, "...[I] cannot stop thinking of him even for a single moment. I used to believe that, for my whole life, I would never part from my brother. But it is a calamitous destiny. [I] never thought to have become king. [I] only thought of being your little brother."

Since he had not finished his education, the King and his mother decided that he should go back to Switzerland. During this period, his uncle, Rangsit Prince of Chainat, was appointed Prince Regent. Upon returning to Switzerland, he changed his fields of studies to Law and Political Science, as this would be more useful now that he had become King.

Marriage and family

File:Portrait bhumibol sirikit.jpg

King Bhumibol and Queen Sirikit on their coronation day

While finishing his degree in Switzerland, Bhumibol visited Paris frequently. It was in Paris that he first met a distant cousin, Mom Rajawongse Sirikit Kitiyakara, daughter of the Thai ambassador to France. He then became a frequent visitor to the ambassador's house. When he lost an eye in a car accident and needed to be hospitalized in Lausanne, Mom Rajawongse Sirikit then became his frequent visitor. She met Bhumibol's mother who asked her to continue her studies in Lausanne, as the King had expressed his interest in her and wished to know her better. Bhumibol chose Riante Rive, a boarding school in Lausanne for her. This eventually led to their quiet engagement in Lausanne on July 19, 1949. They married on April 28, 1950, just a week before his coronation.

The King and his wife Queen Sirikit have four children:

• (Formerly HRH) Princess Ubol Ratana, born April 5, 1951 in Lausanne, Switzerland;
• HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, born July 28, 1952;
• HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, born April 2, 1955;
• HRH Princess Chulabhorn Walailak, born July 4, 1957.

One of the King's grandchildren, Bhumi Jensen (also known as Khun Poom), was killed in the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. He was the son of Princess Ubol Ratana.

Coronation

Bhumibol was crowned King of Thailand on May 5, 1950 at the Royal Palace in Bangkok. His ceremonial name, according to the ancient tradition, is:

พระบาทสมเด็จพระปรมินทรมหาภูมิพลอดุลยเดช มหิตลาธิเบศรามาธิบดี จักรีนฤบดินทร์ สยามินทราธิราช บรมนาถบพิตร (Phrabat Somdej Phra Paramindra Maha Bhumibol Adulyadej Mahitaladhibet Ramadhibodi Chakrinarubodindara Sayamindaradhiraj Boromanatbophit listen^ⓘ)

On the same day, he made his consort Queen (Somdej Phra Boromarajini). The date of his formal accession to the throne is celebrated each May 5 in Thailand as Coronation Day, a public holiday.

Following the death of his grandmother Queen Savang Vadhana (สว่างวัฒนา, Sawang Watthana Phra Phanvasa Areekajao), the King entered a 15 day monkhood (October 22 - November 5, 1956), as is customary at the death of elder relatives. During this time, Sirikit was appointed his regent. She was later appointed Queen Regent (Somdej Phra Boromarajininat) in recognition of this.

Although often referred to as King Rama IX in English language, the name "Rama" is never used in Thai. The name Rama IX was used to roughly approximate "Ratchakal ti Kao" (รัชกาลที่ 9, literally "the Ninth Reign"), which can be used to refer to this King. More commonly, Thais refer to him as Nai Luang or Phra Chao Yu Hua (ในหลวง or พระเจ้าอยู่หัว: both mean "the King"). Formally, he would be referred to as Phrabat Somdej Phra Chao Yu Hua (พระบาทสมเด็จพระเจ้าอยู่หัว) or, in legal documents, Phrabat Somdej Phra Paraminthara Maha Bhumibol Adulyadej (พระบาทสมเด็จพระปรมินทรมหาภูมิพลอดุลยเดช); and in English as His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej. He signs his name as ภูมิพลอดุลยเดช ป.ร. (Bhumibol Adulyadej Por Ror; this is the Thai equivalent of Bhumibol Adulyadej R[ex]).

The King and the people

Through his benignancy and rural development projects, King Bhumibol is at the very heart and soul of Thai people. Although he has become rather less accessible due to his health problems, the respect for the King has not evanesced from Thai people's hearts. His image is prominently displayed throughout the country, and Thais take any suggestion of disrespect for the King, by Thais or foreigners, very seriously.

His dedication over the years has earned him an apothiosized position and moral authority in Thailand. After Thailand's economic bubble burst, many Thais, downcast by the loss of their jobs and pecuniary assets, lived with a gloomy outlook. However, His Majesty has advocated the 'sufficiency economy' philosophy, which emphasized moderation, rational consumption, and resilience to external shocks. This concept is still of great relevance in Thailand.

Period of political conflict

Many public images of the King, such as this one outside the Danish Embassy, show him as many years younger than his current age, contributing to his cult-like status

During the early years of his reign, during the government of military dictator Plaek Pibulsonggram, Bhumibol had no real power and was little more than a ceremonial front for the military regime. Under the regime of Sarit Dhanarajata which followed Plaek Phibunsongkhram's final downfall, the monarchy, which had been repressed by Phibunsongkhram, was revitalized. Bhumibol attended public ceremonies, toured the provinces and patronised development projects. Under Sarit, the practice of crawling in front of royalty during audiences, banned by King Chulalongkorn (Rama V), was revived and the royal-sponsored Thammayut Nikaya order was revitalized. For the first time since the absolute monarchy was overthrown, a King was conveyed up the Chao Phraya River in a royal barge procession to offer robes at temples. Other disused ceremonies from the classical period of the Chakri monarchy, like the royally-patronized ploughing ceremony (Thai: พิธีพืชมงคล), were also revived. The close association with the King lent political legitimacy to Sarit and the military regime. After Sarit's death, his royalist policies were continued by Field Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn.

In October 1973 after massive protests and the deaths of a large number of pro-democracy demonstrators led by students, Bhumibol asserted himself politically for the first time by making it clear he favoured an end to Thanom's military regime, even opening the doors of the Chitralada Palace to fleeing students, and holding audiences with their leaders. The King subsequently appointed Thammasat University Rector Sanya Dharmasakti as the new Prime Minister. A succession of civilian governments followed, but in 1976 with the return of Thanom from self-imposed exile led to renewed conflict. Protests against the ex-dictator escalated and came to a head when two newspapers published forged photographs depicting Thammasat students hanging the Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn in effigy. With many people believing that lèse majesté had been committed, military and paramilitary forces attacked the University, leading to a massacre.

The ensuing chaos was used a pretext for a military coup which resultd in the appointment of Tanin Kraivixien as Prime Minister. He was replaced in another military coup by General Kriangsak Chomanan in October 1977. Kriangsak was succeeded in 1980 by Army Commander in Chief General Prem Tinsulanond, a favorite of the King. In April 1981 a group of army officers staged another coup. Their position quickly crumbled when Prem fled to Khorat and was soon joined by the royal family. The Queen, in a radio broadcast, gave public support to Prem's government. With royal support for Prem made clear, units loyal to the King recaptured the capital.

Crisis of 1992

In 1992 Bhumibol played a key role in Thailand's final transition to a fully democratic system. A coup on February 23 1991 put Thailand back under military dictatorship. After a general election, held in 1992, the majority parties invited General Suchinda Kraprayoon, a leader of the coup, to be the Prime Minister. This caused much dissent, and the conflict escalated to demonstrations and then to a large number of deaths when the military was brought in to control the crowd. The situation became increasingly critical as neither side would back down and the violence escalated.

The King summoned Suchinda and the leader of the pro-democracy movement, Major General Chamlong Srimuang, to a televised audience. At the height of the crisis, the sight of both men appearing together on their knees (in accordance with royal protocol) made a strong impression on the nation, and led to Suchinda's resignation soon afterwards. It was one of the few public occasions where the King directly intervened in a political conflict. A general election was held shortly afterward, and democracy was thus restored.

The King's powers

Despite his current apotheosis influence in Thailand, his power in his early years as the monarch was very limited. Thailand's transition to parliametary democracy in 1930s was actually more like a dictatorship where Field Marshall Pibulsongkram held most of the power. Over the years, through his tireless efforts to help the poorer people of the country by inventing argicultural techiques and eradicating opiums together with his seniority, he has gained respect and a strong hidden power that he executed discreetly. It is not his offical power in the constiution that makes him influencial, but the moral power that he gained from what he did over the years.

This was highlighted by the controversy surrounding the appointment of a new Auditor-General. The Constitution Court ruled in July 2004 that the appointment of Jaruvan Maintaka to this post was by the State Audit Commission was unconstitutional. (The same court that approved Prime Minister Shinawathra status from the controversy case of hiding his assets in businesses obtained concessions from Thai government.) But Jaruvan refused to accept this without an order from the King. In February 2006 the Audit Commission reinstated Jaruvan when it became clear from a memo from the Office of the King's Principal Private Secretary that the King supported her position.

This raised the issue of whethet the King was more powerful than the Constitution. Senator Kaewsan Atibhodi, a former member of the Constitution Drafting Committee, noted that under Article Seven of the 1997 Constitution said that: "whenever no provision under this Constitution is applicable to any case, it shall be decided in accordance with the constitutional practice in the democratic regime of government with the King as Head of the State”. Kaewsan interpreted this as giving the King veto powers over the Senate's appointment of Wisut Montriwat: "Whatever [the King] considers [something as being] not beneficial to the people and being unjust, His Majesty has a veto power".

Bhumibol's hold over Thai public opinion was demonstrated following the 2003 Phnom Penh riots in Cambodia, when hundreds of Thai protesters, enraged by the burning of Thai embassy in Phnom Penh, gathered outside the Cambodian embassy in Bangkok, ripped the Cambodian seal out of the front wall, and tried to break into the embassy. The situation was resolved peacefully when Police General Sant Sarutanonda told the crowd that he had received a call from royal secretary Arsa Sarasin conveying the King's call for calm.

A protestor wearing the royal-yellow "We Love the King" t-shirt that became symbolic of the anti-Thaksin movement.

The King's name was largely exploited by Prime Minister Shinawatra's opponents in Thailand Political Crisis of 2005-2006. In April 2005 Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra presided over a merit-making ceremony at the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, the holiest site in Thai Buddhism. Phoochatkar, a Bangkok newspaper, alleged that Thaksin had usurped the powers of the King by presiding over the ceremony. Sondhi Limthongkul, the owner of Phoochatkarn, promoted the use of slogans such as "We Love the King", "We Will Fight for the King", and "Return Power to the King" in anti-Thaksin rallies. In fact Bhumibol had approved Thaksin presiding over the ceremony, but Sondhi continued to use royal slogans in anti-Thaksin protests until Thaksin announced he was stepping down from power in April 2006.

Petitions for political intervention

Weeks before the 2006 legislative election, the anti-Thaksin coalition (including the Democrat Party, the People's Alliance for Democracy, and the Law Society of Thailand) petitioned the King to appoint a replacement Prime Minister and Cabinet to resolve the political crisis. However, demands for royal intervention met with much criticism. The King, in a speech on 26 April, responded "Asking for a Royally appointed prime minister is undemocratic. It is, pardon me, a mess. It is irrational". Vorajet Phakheerat, a law lecturer at Thammasat University, noted "We're trying to involve the monarch in politics, but it's still not time. If we appeal for a new prime minister, aren't we asking the monarch to take sides?". Military leaders were especially infuriated at the calls for royal intervention.

PM Thaksin takes leave

On 3 April 2006, Thaksin Shinawatra appeared on television to declare victory in the 2006 election. On 4 April 2006, after an audience with King Bhumibol, Thaksin announced that he would not accept the post of Prime Minister after the Parliament reconvenes. "My main reason for not accepting the post of prime minister is because this year is an auspicious year for the king, whose 60th anniversary on the throne is just 60 days away...I want all Thais to reunite," the controversial leader said in a nationally televised speech. He subsequently delegated his functions to Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Chidchai Wannasathit and moved out of Government House.

Orders courts to take action

In a rare, televised speech to senior judges on 26 April 2006, King Bhumibol requested that the judiciary take action to resolve the political crisis. On 8 May 2006, the Constitution Court invalidated the results of the April elections for the National Assembly and ordered a new round of elections. The Supreme, Constitution and Administrative Courts later demanded that the Election Commission resign. However, these courts lacked the constitutional authority to force the EC to leave. One commissioner eventually resigned, but three others - including the Chairman - refused. Charges of lese majesty were filed against the EC Chairman for contradicting the King. The Supreme Court President later defended the courts' extraconstitutional role in ending any wrongdoing by citing the King's message that justice mattered more than the letter of the law.

The royal projects

The south and west sides of Chitralada Palace, the home of the king, feature silos, processing plants and farms. These are just a small part of the so-called "royal projects", which range from research projects (mainly agriculturally related), to alternative schools, skills training, water conservation, to land development (this list is by no means exhaustive).

More than 3,000 development projects have been initiated by the king and implemented throughout the country, most of them aimed at improving the living conditions of Thailand's rural poor.

The projects cover a wide range of subjects from the introduction of new crops to water conservation, from swamp drainage to the preservation of forests, with an aim towards sustainable development.

The Royal Development Projects are divided into eight categories according to the sector of the economy that is targeted: Agriculture, Environment, Public Health, Occupational Promotion, Water Resources, Communications, Public Welfare, and others.

They can also be classified as follows:

• The Projects initiated according to His Majesty's wishes: Projects in which the King conducts study and experiments himself. They are based on the recommendations of experts and carried out with his private funds in the early stages. Once the projects have yielded satisfactory results, His Majesty passes them onto the government for further development.
• The Royal Projects: Private projects of the king and queen, such as the crop substitution project in northern Thailand aimed at stopping opium cultivation, deforestation and the slash and burn cultivation method traditionally used by the hilltribes. The king offered advice and assistance on the planting of cool climate fruits and flowers for a better income.
• The Projects Under Royal Patronage: Projects operated by the private sector but based on the king's guidelines. They include the Thai Encyclopedia for Youth Project, the Dictionary Project and the Din Daeng Cooperative Village Development Project.

The project also spawned the Royal Development Study Centres, which are intended to serve as "living natural museums" where interested people can come to observe and gain knowledge from the real thing. The six centres are located in Chiang Mai, Chachoengsao, Phetchaburi, Chanthaburi, Sakon Nakhon and Narathiwat.

The King's Privy Council

The King, by law, appoints a Privy Council of advisors. Privy Councillors can, under royal command, represent the King at official functions. Other important functions include drafting ammendments to the Palace Law regarding royal succession. The President of the Privy Council acts as regent pro tempore in the King's absence.

King Bhumibol's Privy Council as of 2005 is composed mostly of retired military leaders and members of the royal family. They are:

• General Prem Tinsulanonda, President of the Privy Council
• Dr. Chaovana Nasylvanta (Thai: เชาวน์ ณ ศีลวันต์), also Director of the Crown Property Bureau
• Tanin Kraivixien
• Rear Admiral Mom Luang Usni Pramoj (Thai: อัศนี ปราโมช)
• Air Vice Marshal Kamthon Sindhavananda (Thai: กำธน สินธวานนท์)
• Air Chief Marshal Siddhi Savetsila
• Chulanope Snidvongs Na Ayuthaya (Thai: จุลนภ สนิทวงศ์ ณ อยุธยา), also Chairman of the Administrative Committee of the Royal Development Study Centers
• General Pichitr Kullavanijaya
• Ampol Senanarong
• Chamras Kemacharu
• Mom Luang Thawisan Ladawan
• Mom Rajawongse Thepkamol Devakula (Thai: เทพกมล เทวกุล)
• Sakda Mokkamakkul (Thai: ศักดา โมกขมรรคกุล)
• Palakorn Suwanarat
• Kasem Watanachai
• Sawat Wathanakorn
• Gen. Surayud Chulanont
• Santi Thakral
• Admiral Chumpon Pajjasanon

Future succession

King Bhumibol's only son, Prince Vajiralongkorn, was given the title "Somdej Phra Boroma Orasadhiraj Chao Fah Maha Vajiralongkorn Sayam Makutrajakuman" (Crown Prince of Siam) on 28 December 1972 and made heir apparent to the throne in accordance with the Palace Law on Succession of 1924.

On 5 December 1977, Princess Sirindhorn was given the title, "Sayam Boromrajakumari" (Royal Princess of Siam). Her title is often translated by the English-language press as "Crown Princess", although her official English-language title is simply "Princess". Although the constitution was later amended to allow the Privy Council to appoint a princess as successor to the throne, this would only occur in the absence of a heir apparent. This amendment is retained in Section 23 of the current 1997 "People's Constitution." This effectively signaled Princess Sirindhorn as second in line to the throne, but did not affect Prince Vajiralongkorn's status as heir apparent.

Recent constitutions of Thailand have made the amendment of the Palace Law of Succession the sole prerogative of the King. According to Gothom Arya, former Election Commissioner, this allows the King, if he so chooses, to appoint his son or any of his daughters to the Throne.

60th Anniversary Celebrations

Main article: Bhumibol Adulyadej's 60th Anniversary Celebrations

File:YellowSea09June.jpg

Almost a million of Thais awaiting His Majesty's arrival on June 9, 2006.

File:King60yrsLogo.jpg

The emblem for the 60th Anniversary Celebration of His Majesty the King's Accession to the Throne.

Also called the Diamond Jubilee, the 60th Anniversary Celebrations of His Majesty the King's Accession to the Throne are a series of events throughout 2006 marking His Majesty's reign. Events include the royal barge procession on the Chao Phraya River, fireworks displays, art exhibitions, concerts and dance performances. Tied in with the anniversary, on May 26, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan presented the King with the United Nations Development Program's first Human Development Lifetime Achievement Award. National holidays were on June 9 and June 12-13. On June 9, the King and Queen appeared on the balcony of Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall before hundreds of thousands of people. The official royal barge procession on June 12 was attended by the King and Queen and royal visitors from 25 other countries. On June 13, a banquet for the royals was held in the new Rama IX Throne Hall at the Grand Palace, the first official function for the hall. All the Thai television channels were tuned to this historical event, preempting coverage of the FIFA World Cup.

Private life

Musician

King Bhumibol is an accomplished jazz musician and composer. He was awarded honorary membership of the Vienna Institute of Music and Arts at the age of 32. He used to play jazz music on air on the Or Sor radio station earlier in his reign. In his travels, he has played with such jazz legends as Benny Goodman, Jack Teagarden, Lionel Hampton and Maynard Ferguson. His songs can often be heard at social gatherings and are performed in concerts. They can be listened to here.

Artist & author

His Majesty is a painter, photographer and best-selling author and translator. His translated works are "Tito" (The biography of Josip Broz Tito, former Yugoslavian president, by Phyllis Auty) and "Nai In Phu Pid Tong Laang Phra" (A Man called Intrepid by William Stevenson).

National best-seller "Phra Mahachanok" is based on a traditional Jataka story of Buddhist scripture.

"The story of Thong Daeng" is the story of his dog Khun Thong Daeng. He suggested making this book into a bilingual comic illustrated by a nationally famous comic illustrator Chai Rajawat, and it along with its associated merchandise, sold out quickly.

Inventor

He is the world's first and only monarch to hold a patent, holding one in 1993 for a waste water aerator named "Chai Pattana", and several patents on rainmaking since 1955: the "sandwich" rainmaking patent in 1999 and lately the "supersandwich" patent in 2004.

Crown Property Bureau

File:Thai King Standard.png

The Royal Standard of King Bhumibol.

The assets of the King and the Thai royal household are managed by the Crown Property Bureau. Estimates of the total wealth of the royal household range from 2 billion to 8 billion USD. The current Director General of the CPB is Chirayu Issarangkul Na Ayuthaya. Through the CPB, the King owns many properties through-out Thailand and equity in many companies, including Siam Cement (the largest Thai industrial conglomerate) and Siam Commercial Bank (one of the largest banks). About 36,000 of the CPB's properties are leased or rented to third parties. Properties owned by the CPB include the sites of the Four Seasons Hotel, the Suan Lum Night Bazaar, and Central World Tower.

Biographies

American journalist Paul Handley, who spent thirteen years in Thailand, wrote the biography The King Never Smiles (ISBN 0300106823) in 2005, to be published by Yale University Press in July 2006. The Information and Communications Ministry banned the book and blocked the book's page on the Yale University Press website in January 2006. In a statement dated 19 January 2006, Thai National Police Chief Gen. Kowit Wattana said the book has "contents which could affect national security and the good morality of the people."

The censored publicity materials at the Yale University Press website describe a book telling "the unexpected story of (King Bhumibol Adulyadej's) life and 60-year rule — how a Western-raised boy came to be seen by his people as a living Buddha, and how a king widely seen as beneficent and apolitical could in fact be so deeply political, autocratic, and even brutal... Blasting apart the widely accepted image of the king as egalitarian and virtuous, Handley convincingly portrays an anti-democratic monarch who, together with allies in big business and the murderous, corrupt Thai military, has protected a centuries-old, barely modified feudal dynasty." Yale University Press Senior Editor John Kulka has called the book an "interpretive biography". As the book has yet to be published, its factuality has not been publicly verified.

William Stevenson, who had access to the Royal Court and the Royal Family, wrote the biography The Revolutionary King (ISBN 1841194514) in 2001. An article in Time magazine says the idea for the book was suggested by King Bhumibol. Some have noted that the book displays intimate knowledge about personal aspects of the King. However, the book has been banned in Thailand and the Royal Household Bureau has warned the Thai media about even referring to the volume in print. The book has been criticized for factual inaccuracies, disrespecting the King (it refers to Bumibhol by his family nickname "Lek"), and proposing a controversial theory explaining the death of King Ananda. "The King said from the beginning the book would be dangerous for him and for me," says Stevenson.

See also

• History of Thailand (1932-1973)
• History of Thailand since 1973
• Public Holidays in Thailand
• Chakri dynasty (Kings of Thailand)

External links

• The Sixtieth Anniversary Celebrations of His Majesty's Accession to the Throne - official website for Diamond Jubilee
• A Visionary Monarch - provides a lot of insights on his visions and contributions to the country.
• Crown Property Bureau (in Thai)
• The Golden Jubilee Network - has many subjects on the King, including his projects, speeches, and his royal new year card.
• Office of the Royal Development Projects Board
• Supreme Artist - see works of art created by the King.
• The King's Birthplace
• Palaces of the King - provides information of palaces in Thailand.
• Thai monarchy
• Thailand's Guiding Light
• Thailand: How a 700-Year-Old System of Government Functions - article by David Lamb (LA Times staff writer) on Bhumibol

Template:Incumbent succession box