The death of the beloved King
His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand, born December 5 1927, died October 13 2016.
The country is crippled by grief by the loss of their iconic King, a father to the nation. It's a very humbling and sad sight to behold the deep sorrow in the hearts of the nation. Heartfelt condolences to Thailand - may your King rest in peace.
His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand, the world's longest reigning monarch (70 years) passed away at age 88 after a long illness and extensive treatment at the Siriraj Hospital in Bangkok.
He was the only Buddhist monarch in the world, and was elevated to the throne when he was just 18 years old. HM King Bhumibol ascended to the throne on June 9, 1946, and was also known as King Rama IX and was the ninth monarch in the Chakri Dynasty.
The well-loved monarch is survived by his wife, Mom Rajawongse Sirikit Kitiyakara and his children: Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya and her two daughters; Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn and five sons and two daughters; Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn and Princess Chulabhorn Walailak and her two daughters as well as a large extended family.
He will be succeeded on the throne by his son, Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn.
Among King Bhumibol’s most widely-praised accomplishments were the philosophy of Sufficiency Economy, a concept he taught citizens about living a moderate, self-dependent life without greed or exploitation and to survive on their own in the age of globalization.
In his off-hours, he was a keen photographer, jazz saxophone player and composer, preferring Dixieland and New Orleans-style jazz. He composed nearly fifty songs, mostly in the genres of blues. He was also an accomplished painter. An avid animal lover, he published a book about one of his favorite dogs, a female ginger called Thong Daeng. The book is called “The Story of Thong Daeng.”
King Bhumibol was born on December 5, 1927 in Cambridge, Massachusetts to Prince Mahidol Adulyadej, the Prince of Songkla, and Sangwan Srinagarindra (later recognized Somdet Ya or Princess Srinagarindra). He was the youngest son in the family, born while his father attended Harvard University.
The King graduated with a political science degree from The University of Lausanne in Switzerland and got married on April 28, 1950.
For the last decade, King Bhumibol has had health issues that have included bacterial infections, breathing difficulties, heart issues and fluid in the brain.
RIP.
Expat Community
As Thais mourn for the passing of the beloved late HM the King Bhumibol Aduladej, expats across Thailand suffer as well. Whether they are in pain because they felt a connection to the late King or are suffering as they see their friends and colleagues in pain, Coconuts asked a few of them how they were feeling in the wake of such a monumental world event.
Englishman Tom Earls has lived in Thailand for many years. When he learned that HM the King had passed, he said, “The first thing I noticed was that the hairs on my arms were standing on end. It was a really visceral reaction, but it wasn't so much the event itself that provoked it, rather the implications it has for Thailand.”
“I guess I hadn't really thought about just how much my Thai friends would be affected, so, no I really didn't expect it to have as much of an impact on me as it did.”
“I have been surprised by the expat reaction. Either more people than I thought have genuine feelings of affection for the King, or they feel compelled to project that image.”
“I think Thai people will take enormous pride from the fact that expats are mourning alongside them. Sometimes people just want their opinions to be validated, and this feels like one of those times. I think those who choose to mourn will be judged in a positive light, and those who take a step back will also be completely understood,” he said.
American Darra Christensen said, “I was watching the news at a friend’s house. I thought of all the people who had been sitting outside Siriraj Hospital and my heart dropped. I couldn’t imagine how deeply saddened and distraught everyone must have been feeling in that moment.”
“I’ve grown exponentially melancholy and somber since the announcement. Seeing everyone so heartbroken has truly shown me how paramount and vital the King [was] to this country. I’ve never seen anything comparable to this back home.”
“I’ve learned the typical textbook life story of the King. It seems that this country will remember him as an extremely hard-working monarch who had an integral part in the economic, social, and political development of Thailand.”
As far as mourning, she said, “I do not feel as if we are expected to mourn but there is an obvious expectation to be respectful. Expatriate participation in mourning for the passing of the King is something that I don’t see being problematic, so long as it is done with respect.”
David Pfizenmaier, a half-German, half-Thai man who grew up in Germany said, “Even though I wasn’t born in this country, during the last five years I have really felt a connection to the people and to the King. I feel the love and respect all the time from the Thais to the King.”
“It’s so hard to describe my feelings. On one hand, I’m glad I was there for a historical moment, but on the other hand, I always hoped to be away from Thailand when this happened. But I was right there in the middle of it and I felt all of it.”
“He was really a King of the people. I hope that people will follow his example and make the best for the country.”
Megan Rogers, an American, said “When I first moved to Thailand a few years ago, I was immediately taken with [HM the King] — his hobbies and interests and talents and, of course, all of the strides he made for Thailand and how much he loved his country and people.”
“I'm generally a very empathetic person, so even though this is not a person I knew personally, I know how much he meant to an entire country. I think as a foreigner who has called this country home for multiple years, I am both allowed and expected to mourn, at least just by wearing black and showing my respect. I haven't felt any judgement for sharing my love and heartfelt thoughts with my Thai colleagues and friends — I think of this country as my home now, and I think it would be stranger if I ignored his passing. I think mourning is very personal and everyone, Thai or foreign, expat or holiday traveler, should be able to mourn in the capacity that they feel.”
News for tourists during the mourning period from TAT.
Thailand is now in an official period of mourning following the passing of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
In this regard, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) would like all visitors to Thailand to continue with their travel plans as normal. Furthermore, kindly be advised of the following:
• Many Thai people will be wearing black or white clothing as a sign of mourning. This is not required of visitors but if possible, they should wear sombre and respectful clothing when in public.
• Visitors should refrain from conducting any inappropriate or disrespectful behaviour.
• Tourist attractions will be open as usual with the exception of Wat Phra Kaeo (Temple of the Emerald Buddha) and the Grand Palace, as they will be the venue of the Royal Funeral Rites.
• The Government has asked for the cooperation from the entertainment venues; such as, bars and nightclubs to consider the opening of their business operations during this time. The decision will be made by the individual owners.
• Most of the traditional and cultural events will be taking place as usual, although the celebrations may be changed for appropriateness as a mark of respect, or the events may be dedicated to the memory of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
• All transport, banks, hospitals and other public services will be operating as usual.
• The related authorities have stepped up safety and security measures for all Thais and visitors to facilitate their travelling around the country.
• For any enquiries, please contact our TAT domestic offices or Tel.: 1672.
TAT would like to thank all visitors for their understanding and supporting Thailand during this period of time.
Tourism Authority of Thailand
14 October 2016 at 16.00 hrs.
http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/948874-embassies-urge-respect-for-thai-sensitivities/
Mourning period for residents and expats in Thailand
The government has set a mourning period of one year for the passing of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej. People are urged to join the mourning period as appropriate. This includes:
Government officals and government employees to wear black or dark clothing for one year.
Foreigners in non-government positions to wear black / black and white for 100 days
Events and concerts have been cancelled until further notice
Restaurants and bars are to tone down, and be closed by no later than 1am.
Markets and walking streets in some areas have been closed for an unspecified period of time
Loi Krathong festival has been cancelled
Dress respectfully when going out in public
Maintain a sombre, quiet behaviour when out in public
The nation came to a halt on Friday afternoon as black-clad mourners gathered to witness the procession of His Majesty the King's body from Siriraj Hospital to the Grand Palace. Tens of thousands fully occupied the four-kilometre route where the motorcade passed. Many had been at the hospital and locations along the roads since Thursday night to get the best views of the van transporting the body to the Phiman Rattaya Throne Hall inside the Grand Palace.
Mourners also gathered by the thousands at Sala Sahathai Samakhom Pavilion, inside the Grand Palace complex, on Friday morning to take part in a symbolic bathing rite for the King with other dignitaries including Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and cabinet ministers. Elsewhere, provincial halls were used for people to take part in bathing rites before portraits of His Majesty. The King's body is now resting at the pavilion for a chanting ceremony. The cremation date has not been announced.
Please credit and share this article with others using this link:http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1110704/kings-body-at-grand-palace.
History of HM the King
The young Bhumibol had spent most of his life abroad and at the time of his accession was studying at Lausanne University. The new king, a shy, bespectacled, almost withdrawn young man, took the dynastic name Rama IX and became the ninth sovereign of the Chakri dynasty.
Despite these inauspicious beginnings, over the following decades King Bhumibol turned Thailand’s new constitutional monarchy into a resounding success. During years of political turmoil and rapid change which saw numerous coups or attempted coups and more than 20 prime ministers, he was seen as a consistent, selfless presence and symbol of national unity.
In his first address to the Thai Parliament after his coronation in 1950, the King urged its members to do everything in their power to prevent the entry into Thailand of communism from neighbouring countries. Deeply conservative by nature and with a strong belief in stability and order, he was convinced that improving the lot of the peasants would be the best protection against the spread of communism, and thereafter he devoted himself to that end.
He developed an extraordinary rapport with ordinary Thais, and would spend most of every year travelling between a series of palaces around the country. From these he would lead 40-strong convoys of assorted Jeeps and Land-Rovers down dusty roads deep into the countryside meeting local people, visiting rural projects or entertaining local dignitaries.
Foreign ambassadors to Bangkok would often be dragged from the capital’s cocktail party circuit to spend days bumping around the outback inspecting drainage schemes. Always the King radiated a curious touching innocence.
There seemed no end to the good works in which King Bhumibol was involved. They ranged from lettuce farms and cottage industries such as silk or cotton weaving to dams, schools, clinics and even rain generation plants. The King himself led development programmes in the poorest parts of the country and funded many of them from his own private funds. Successful projects would be passed on to the government for further development.
The King of Thailand has little direct power under the constitution, but on several occasions Bhumibol used his considerable personal and moral authority to resolve political crises that threatened national stability and to try to inch Thailand nearer to stable democracy.
King Bhumibol took great care to re-create the mystique that had surrounded Thai kings of old and revived ceremonies that had not been used since the time of his grandfather, Rama V. In addition to the title of King, he was revered by ordinary Thais as Strength of the Land, Incomparable Power, Brother of the Moon, Half-Brother of the Son, and Possessor of the Twenty-Four Golden Umbrellas.
But it was not just his good works and popularity that boosted the royal image. That was also protected by a draconian lèse-majesté law which made it an offence punishable by between three and 15 years in jail to “defame, insult or threaten” any member of the royal family. The law was strictly enforced, and as recently as January 2009 an Australian writer was jailed for insulting the monarchy.
Prince Somdet Phra Chao Yu Hua Bhumibol Adulyadej was born on December 5 1927 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the son of Prince Mahidol of Songkla, half-brother and heir of the last absolute monarch of Thailand, King Prajadhipok (Rama VII) and the younger son of King Chulachomklao (Rama V, reigned 1868-1910).
The Chakri dynasty into which he was born dates back to 1782. Prince Bhumibol’s great-grandfather King Mongkut (King Chomklao, reigned 1851-1868) was splendidly, if inaccurately, brought to life in Anna and the King of Siam and, later, The King and I.
Prince Bhumibol’s father, Prince Mahidol, had married a Siamese commoner and studied to be a doctor. At the time of the birth of Prince Bhumibol, he was studying public health and medicine at Harvard and his wife was studying nursing and economics at Simmons College close by.
Prince Bhumibol was the youngest of the family’s three children, having an elder brother and sister. At the time of his birth, he was several steps removed from succession to the Thai throne, and his elder brother, Prince Ananda, had precedence.
Prince Mahidol died in 1928, when his son was a year old, and the family returned to Thailand where, as a young boy, Prince Bhumibol briefly attended Mater Dei Primary School. But in 1933, following a military coup, King Prajadhipok ordered the family to move to Lausanne, Switzerland. There the Prince attended the Ecole Miremont and the Ecole Nouvelle de la Suisse Romande, Chailly sur Lausanne. Later he enrolled at the Gymnase de Lausanne.
While the family were living in Switzerland, political changes in Thailand started the chain of events that would eventually elevate the young Prince Bhumibol to the throne.
In 1932, following the coup, King Prajadhipok agreed a new constitution that would replace Thailand’s absolute monarchy with a constitutional one, and in 1935 he abdicated the throne in favour of his nephew, Prince Ananda, then 10 years old. The two young princes visited Thailand briefly in 1938-39.
During the greater part of the Second World War, Thailand was controlled by a pro-Japanese puppet government, so that Princes Ananda and Bhumibol did not return there until late 1945, when Prince Ananda went to Bangkok for his coronation.
Before the ceremony could be performed, however, on the morning of June 9 1946 Prince Ananda was found in bed with a bullet in his skull and a revolver by his side. Despite a seven-year murder trial and the execution of three junior palace staff, there has never been a satisfactory explanation of why he died, and the death was officially ruled an accident. A book which suggested that Ananda killed himself because he had been forbidden to marry a Swiss girlfriend was banned in Thailand.
As King Ananda’s brother, Prince Bhumibol was named his successor by Act of Parliament. Two months later, after the legislature had appointed a two-man regency council to rule pending his coming of age, he returned to Switzerland to complete his education.
The young King had planned to become an architect and had enrolled at the University of Lausanne to study Engineering. Following his brother’s death, however, he changed his course to Law and Political Science.
When King Bhumibol attained his majority in December 1946, the Siamese government allocated several hundred thousand dollars for the ceremonial cremation of the remains of King Ananda, a necessary preliminary to the coronation of his successor who was required by religious custom to light the funeral pyre. Unsettled conditions in 1947 following a coup d’état forced a postponement, and court astrologers settled on March 2 1949 as the most auspicious date.
But in October 1948, King Bhumibol was seriously injured in a motor accident in Lausanne which left him blind in one eye and paralysed half his face. Both cremation and coronation had to be postponed once more.
By the time of his coronation, the King had married Princess Mom Rachawong Sirikit Kitiyakara, a great-granddaughter of a former king and thus a distant cousin. In the 1960s she would be described as one of the 10 most beautiful women in the world.
King Bhumipol had first met Princess Sirikit in Paris, where her father was serving as ambassador. She was 15 years old and training to be a concert pianist. While in hospital recovering from the motor accident, King Bhumibol asked to see her and they soon became engaged.
Their wedding, on April 28 1950, was described by The New York Times as “the shortest, simplest royal wedding ever held in the land of gilded elephants and white umbrellas”. The ceremony was performed by the King’s ageing grandmother, Queen Sawang Vadhana.
A week later, on May 5 1950, the formal coronation rites took place in the Baisal Daksin Throne Hall in the Grand Palace. It was the first coronation ceremony of a Thai sovereign to rule under the system of constitutional monarchy.
The royal couple spent their honeymoon at Hua Hin beach in southern Thailand before they returned to Switzerland, where the King completed his studies. They returned to Thailand in 1951.
In 1956 King Bhumibol followed Thailand’s spiritual tradition of entering the Buddhist monkhood of Sangkha for 15 days to practice meditation. He was ordained by the Supreme Patriarch on October 22 at the Royal Chapel of the Emerald Buddha in the Grand Palace.
King Bhumibol remained sensitive to the way in which Thailand is perceived by the outside world. As well as making numerous state visits, he often employed his powers of clemency to secure the release of westerners held in the country’s jails.
He always liked to keep abreast of the latest developments in science and culture. He was an accomplished painter and photographer, and was the first member of the Thai royal family to be granted a patent for an invention. The registered patent is for the Chai Pattana Aerator Model RX 2, an apparatus for water treatment which can be seen operating in many polluted waterways in Thailand.
King Bhumibol was also a writer and musician. He translated several works of literature into Thai. He also composed a number of pop songs, including HM Blues and a little number called Oh I Say! One of his compositions, a beguine entitled Blue Night (with lyrics by the royal chamberlain) was incorporated in the 1950 Broadway revue Peep Show.
As King, Bhumibol would serenade the population every Friday night on the saxophone, performing with a jazz group in the studios of the royal radio station. He would also become the first Asian composer to be honoured by being made a member of the Viennese Institute of Music and Arts.
The King had been a keen sportsman, fond of skiing, tennis and diving. A skilled sailor, he once sailed a dinghy single-handed across the dangerous Gulf of Thailand; in 1967 he won a gold medal in dinghy sailing for Thailand at the fourth South-East Asia Peninsula Games.
King Bhumibol and Queen Sirikit had one son and three daughters who, according to official sources, were all “deeply involved in activities to better the lot of the Thai people and are themselves loved and respected”.
In October 2007, the king suffered the symptoms of a minor stroke; the following year he was unable to make his traditional annual birthday speech. Rumours around his health persisted over the following years.
He is survived by Queen Sirikit and their four children. He is succeeded to the throne by HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn.
He was the only Buddhist monarch in the world, and was elevated to the throne when he was just 18 years old. HM King Bhumibol ascended to the throne on June 9, 1946, and was also known as King Rama IX and was the ninth monarch in the Chakri Dynasty.
The well-loved monarch is survived by his wife, Mom Rajawongse Sirikit Kitiyakara and his children: Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya and her two daughters; Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn and five sons and two daughters; Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn and Princess Chulabhorn Walailak and her two daughters as well as a large extended family.
He will be succeeded on the throne by his son, Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn.
Among King Bhumibol’s most widely-praised accomplishments were the philosophy of Sufficiency Economy, a concept he taught citizens about living a moderate, self-dependent life without greed or exploitation and to survive on their own in the age of globalization.
In his off-hours, he was a keen photographer, jazz saxophone player and composer, preferring Dixieland and New Orleans-style jazz. He composed nearly fifty songs, mostly in the genres of blues. He was also an accomplished painter. An avid animal lover, he published a book about one of his favorite dogs, a female ginger called Thong Daeng. The book is called “The Story of Thong Daeng.”
King Bhumibol was born on December 5, 1927 in Cambridge, Massachusetts to Prince Mahidol Adulyadej, the Prince of Songkla, and Sangwan Srinagarindra (later recognized Somdet Ya or Princess Srinagarindra). He was the youngest son in the family, born while his father attended Harvard University.
The King graduated with a political science degree from The University of Lausanne in Switzerland and got married on April 28, 1950.
For the last decade, King Bhumibol has had health issues that have included bacterial infections, breathing difficulties, heart issues and fluid in the brain.
RIP.
Expat Community
As Thais mourn for the passing of the beloved late HM the King Bhumibol Aduladej, expats across Thailand suffer as well. Whether they are in pain because they felt a connection to the late King or are suffering as they see their friends and colleagues in pain, Coconuts asked a few of them how they were feeling in the wake of such a monumental world event.
Englishman Tom Earls has lived in Thailand for many years. When he learned that HM the King had passed, he said, “The first thing I noticed was that the hairs on my arms were standing on end. It was a really visceral reaction, but it wasn't so much the event itself that provoked it, rather the implications it has for Thailand.”
“I guess I hadn't really thought about just how much my Thai friends would be affected, so, no I really didn't expect it to have as much of an impact on me as it did.”
“I have been surprised by the expat reaction. Either more people than I thought have genuine feelings of affection for the King, or they feel compelled to project that image.”
“I think Thai people will take enormous pride from the fact that expats are mourning alongside them. Sometimes people just want their opinions to be validated, and this feels like one of those times. I think those who choose to mourn will be judged in a positive light, and those who take a step back will also be completely understood,” he said.
American Darra Christensen said, “I was watching the news at a friend’s house. I thought of all the people who had been sitting outside Siriraj Hospital and my heart dropped. I couldn’t imagine how deeply saddened and distraught everyone must have been feeling in that moment.”
“I’ve grown exponentially melancholy and somber since the announcement. Seeing everyone so heartbroken has truly shown me how paramount and vital the King [was] to this country. I’ve never seen anything comparable to this back home.”
“I’ve learned the typical textbook life story of the King. It seems that this country will remember him as an extremely hard-working monarch who had an integral part in the economic, social, and political development of Thailand.”
As far as mourning, she said, “I do not feel as if we are expected to mourn but there is an obvious expectation to be respectful. Expatriate participation in mourning for the passing of the King is something that I don’t see being problematic, so long as it is done with respect.”
David Pfizenmaier, a half-German, half-Thai man who grew up in Germany said, “Even though I wasn’t born in this country, during the last five years I have really felt a connection to the people and to the King. I feel the love and respect all the time from the Thais to the King.”
“It’s so hard to describe my feelings. On one hand, I’m glad I was there for a historical moment, but on the other hand, I always hoped to be away from Thailand when this happened. But I was right there in the middle of it and I felt all of it.”
“He was really a King of the people. I hope that people will follow his example and make the best for the country.”
Megan Rogers, an American, said “When I first moved to Thailand a few years ago, I was immediately taken with [HM the King] — his hobbies and interests and talents and, of course, all of the strides he made for Thailand and how much he loved his country and people.”
“I'm generally a very empathetic person, so even though this is not a person I knew personally, I know how much he meant to an entire country. I think as a foreigner who has called this country home for multiple years, I am both allowed and expected to mourn, at least just by wearing black and showing my respect. I haven't felt any judgement for sharing my love and heartfelt thoughts with my Thai colleagues and friends — I think of this country as my home now, and I think it would be stranger if I ignored his passing. I think mourning is very personal and everyone, Thai or foreign, expat or holiday traveler, should be able to mourn in the capacity that they feel.”
News for tourists during the mourning period from TAT.
Thailand is now in an official period of mourning following the passing of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
In this regard, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) would like all visitors to Thailand to continue with their travel plans as normal. Furthermore, kindly be advised of the following:
• Many Thai people will be wearing black or white clothing as a sign of mourning. This is not required of visitors but if possible, they should wear sombre and respectful clothing when in public.
• Visitors should refrain from conducting any inappropriate or disrespectful behaviour.
• Tourist attractions will be open as usual with the exception of Wat Phra Kaeo (Temple of the Emerald Buddha) and the Grand Palace, as they will be the venue of the Royal Funeral Rites.
• The Government has asked for the cooperation from the entertainment venues; such as, bars and nightclubs to consider the opening of their business operations during this time. The decision will be made by the individual owners.
• Most of the traditional and cultural events will be taking place as usual, although the celebrations may be changed for appropriateness as a mark of respect, or the events may be dedicated to the memory of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
• All transport, banks, hospitals and other public services will be operating as usual.
• The related authorities have stepped up safety and security measures for all Thais and visitors to facilitate their travelling around the country.
• For any enquiries, please contact our TAT domestic offices or Tel.: 1672.
TAT would like to thank all visitors for their understanding and supporting Thailand during this period of time.
Tourism Authority of Thailand
14 October 2016 at 16.00 hrs.
http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/948874-embassies-urge-respect-for-thai-sensitivities/
Mourning period for residents and expats in Thailand
The government has set a mourning period of one year for the passing of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej. People are urged to join the mourning period as appropriate. This includes:
Government officals and government employees to wear black or dark clothing for one year.
Foreigners in non-government positions to wear black / black and white for 100 days
Events and concerts have been cancelled until further notice
Restaurants and bars are to tone down, and be closed by no later than 1am.
Markets and walking streets in some areas have been closed for an unspecified period of time
Loi Krathong festival has been cancelled
Dress respectfully when going out in public
Maintain a sombre, quiet behaviour when out in public
The nation came to a halt on Friday afternoon as black-clad mourners gathered to witness the procession of His Majesty the King's body from Siriraj Hospital to the Grand Palace. Tens of thousands fully occupied the four-kilometre route where the motorcade passed. Many had been at the hospital and locations along the roads since Thursday night to get the best views of the van transporting the body to the Phiman Rattaya Throne Hall inside the Grand Palace.
Mourners also gathered by the thousands at Sala Sahathai Samakhom Pavilion, inside the Grand Palace complex, on Friday morning to take part in a symbolic bathing rite for the King with other dignitaries including Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and cabinet ministers. Elsewhere, provincial halls were used for people to take part in bathing rites before portraits of His Majesty. The King's body is now resting at the pavilion for a chanting ceremony. The cremation date has not been announced.
Please credit and share this article with others using this link:http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1110704/kings-body-at-grand-palace.
History of HM the King
The young Bhumibol had spent most of his life abroad and at the time of his accession was studying at Lausanne University. The new king, a shy, bespectacled, almost withdrawn young man, took the dynastic name Rama IX and became the ninth sovereign of the Chakri dynasty.
Despite these inauspicious beginnings, over the following decades King Bhumibol turned Thailand’s new constitutional monarchy into a resounding success. During years of political turmoil and rapid change which saw numerous coups or attempted coups and more than 20 prime ministers, he was seen as a consistent, selfless presence and symbol of national unity.
In his first address to the Thai Parliament after his coronation in 1950, the King urged its members to do everything in their power to prevent the entry into Thailand of communism from neighbouring countries. Deeply conservative by nature and with a strong belief in stability and order, he was convinced that improving the lot of the peasants would be the best protection against the spread of communism, and thereafter he devoted himself to that end.
He developed an extraordinary rapport with ordinary Thais, and would spend most of every year travelling between a series of palaces around the country. From these he would lead 40-strong convoys of assorted Jeeps and Land-Rovers down dusty roads deep into the countryside meeting local people, visiting rural projects or entertaining local dignitaries.
Foreign ambassadors to Bangkok would often be dragged from the capital’s cocktail party circuit to spend days bumping around the outback inspecting drainage schemes. Always the King radiated a curious touching innocence.
There seemed no end to the good works in which King Bhumibol was involved. They ranged from lettuce farms and cottage industries such as silk or cotton weaving to dams, schools, clinics and even rain generation plants. The King himself led development programmes in the poorest parts of the country and funded many of them from his own private funds. Successful projects would be passed on to the government for further development.
The King of Thailand has little direct power under the constitution, but on several occasions Bhumibol used his considerable personal and moral authority to resolve political crises that threatened national stability and to try to inch Thailand nearer to stable democracy.
King Bhumibol took great care to re-create the mystique that had surrounded Thai kings of old and revived ceremonies that had not been used since the time of his grandfather, Rama V. In addition to the title of King, he was revered by ordinary Thais as Strength of the Land, Incomparable Power, Brother of the Moon, Half-Brother of the Son, and Possessor of the Twenty-Four Golden Umbrellas.
But it was not just his good works and popularity that boosted the royal image. That was also protected by a draconian lèse-majesté law which made it an offence punishable by between three and 15 years in jail to “defame, insult or threaten” any member of the royal family. The law was strictly enforced, and as recently as January 2009 an Australian writer was jailed for insulting the monarchy.
Prince Somdet Phra Chao Yu Hua Bhumibol Adulyadej was born on December 5 1927 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the son of Prince Mahidol of Songkla, half-brother and heir of the last absolute monarch of Thailand, King Prajadhipok (Rama VII) and the younger son of King Chulachomklao (Rama V, reigned 1868-1910).
The Chakri dynasty into which he was born dates back to 1782. Prince Bhumibol’s great-grandfather King Mongkut (King Chomklao, reigned 1851-1868) was splendidly, if inaccurately, brought to life in Anna and the King of Siam and, later, The King and I.
Prince Bhumibol’s father, Prince Mahidol, had married a Siamese commoner and studied to be a doctor. At the time of the birth of Prince Bhumibol, he was studying public health and medicine at Harvard and his wife was studying nursing and economics at Simmons College close by.
Prince Bhumibol was the youngest of the family’s three children, having an elder brother and sister. At the time of his birth, he was several steps removed from succession to the Thai throne, and his elder brother, Prince Ananda, had precedence.
Prince Mahidol died in 1928, when his son was a year old, and the family returned to Thailand where, as a young boy, Prince Bhumibol briefly attended Mater Dei Primary School. But in 1933, following a military coup, King Prajadhipok ordered the family to move to Lausanne, Switzerland. There the Prince attended the Ecole Miremont and the Ecole Nouvelle de la Suisse Romande, Chailly sur Lausanne. Later he enrolled at the Gymnase de Lausanne.
While the family were living in Switzerland, political changes in Thailand started the chain of events that would eventually elevate the young Prince Bhumibol to the throne.
In 1932, following the coup, King Prajadhipok agreed a new constitution that would replace Thailand’s absolute monarchy with a constitutional one, and in 1935 he abdicated the throne in favour of his nephew, Prince Ananda, then 10 years old. The two young princes visited Thailand briefly in 1938-39.
During the greater part of the Second World War, Thailand was controlled by a pro-Japanese puppet government, so that Princes Ananda and Bhumibol did not return there until late 1945, when Prince Ananda went to Bangkok for his coronation.
Before the ceremony could be performed, however, on the morning of June 9 1946 Prince Ananda was found in bed with a bullet in his skull and a revolver by his side. Despite a seven-year murder trial and the execution of three junior palace staff, there has never been a satisfactory explanation of why he died, and the death was officially ruled an accident. A book which suggested that Ananda killed himself because he had been forbidden to marry a Swiss girlfriend was banned in Thailand.
As King Ananda’s brother, Prince Bhumibol was named his successor by Act of Parliament. Two months later, after the legislature had appointed a two-man regency council to rule pending his coming of age, he returned to Switzerland to complete his education.
The young King had planned to become an architect and had enrolled at the University of Lausanne to study Engineering. Following his brother’s death, however, he changed his course to Law and Political Science.
When King Bhumibol attained his majority in December 1946, the Siamese government allocated several hundred thousand dollars for the ceremonial cremation of the remains of King Ananda, a necessary preliminary to the coronation of his successor who was required by religious custom to light the funeral pyre. Unsettled conditions in 1947 following a coup d’état forced a postponement, and court astrologers settled on March 2 1949 as the most auspicious date.
But in October 1948, King Bhumibol was seriously injured in a motor accident in Lausanne which left him blind in one eye and paralysed half his face. Both cremation and coronation had to be postponed once more.
By the time of his coronation, the King had married Princess Mom Rachawong Sirikit Kitiyakara, a great-granddaughter of a former king and thus a distant cousin. In the 1960s she would be described as one of the 10 most beautiful women in the world.
King Bhumipol had first met Princess Sirikit in Paris, where her father was serving as ambassador. She was 15 years old and training to be a concert pianist. While in hospital recovering from the motor accident, King Bhumibol asked to see her and they soon became engaged.
Their wedding, on April 28 1950, was described by The New York Times as “the shortest, simplest royal wedding ever held in the land of gilded elephants and white umbrellas”. The ceremony was performed by the King’s ageing grandmother, Queen Sawang Vadhana.
A week later, on May 5 1950, the formal coronation rites took place in the Baisal Daksin Throne Hall in the Grand Palace. It was the first coronation ceremony of a Thai sovereign to rule under the system of constitutional monarchy.
The royal couple spent their honeymoon at Hua Hin beach in southern Thailand before they returned to Switzerland, where the King completed his studies. They returned to Thailand in 1951.
In 1956 King Bhumibol followed Thailand’s spiritual tradition of entering the Buddhist monkhood of Sangkha for 15 days to practice meditation. He was ordained by the Supreme Patriarch on October 22 at the Royal Chapel of the Emerald Buddha in the Grand Palace.
King Bhumibol remained sensitive to the way in which Thailand is perceived by the outside world. As well as making numerous state visits, he often employed his powers of clemency to secure the release of westerners held in the country’s jails.
He always liked to keep abreast of the latest developments in science and culture. He was an accomplished painter and photographer, and was the first member of the Thai royal family to be granted a patent for an invention. The registered patent is for the Chai Pattana Aerator Model RX 2, an apparatus for water treatment which can be seen operating in many polluted waterways in Thailand.
King Bhumibol was also a writer and musician. He translated several works of literature into Thai. He also composed a number of pop songs, including HM Blues and a little number called Oh I Say! One of his compositions, a beguine entitled Blue Night (with lyrics by the royal chamberlain) was incorporated in the 1950 Broadway revue Peep Show.
As King, Bhumibol would serenade the population every Friday night on the saxophone, performing with a jazz group in the studios of the royal radio station. He would also become the first Asian composer to be honoured by being made a member of the Viennese Institute of Music and Arts.
The King had been a keen sportsman, fond of skiing, tennis and diving. A skilled sailor, he once sailed a dinghy single-handed across the dangerous Gulf of Thailand; in 1967 he won a gold medal in dinghy sailing for Thailand at the fourth South-East Asia Peninsula Games.
King Bhumibol and Queen Sirikit had one son and three daughters who, according to official sources, were all “deeply involved in activities to better the lot of the Thai people and are themselves loved and respected”.
In October 2007, the king suffered the symptoms of a minor stroke; the following year he was unable to make his traditional annual birthday speech. Rumours around his health persisted over the following years.
He is survived by Queen Sirikit and their four children. He is succeeded to the throne by HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn.
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