King Bumipol (Bhumibol Adulyadej)

King Bumipol (Bhumibol Adulyadej, should be pronounced “Pumipon Adunyadet”) is the ninth ruler of the Chakri dynasty, dating back to 1782. For this reason, he is also known as King Rama IX or the Ninth Rama. His majesty succeeded the throne after the death of his older brother, the VIII Rama, in 1946, and was coroneted in 1950. King Bhumibol’s reign is the most prolonged reign in the entire Thai history enjoying immense popularity.

King Bhumibol was born in 1927 in the USA, as the youngest son of Mahidol Adulyadej, Prince of Songkhla and Mom Sangwal, the commonner. His parents came back to Thailand in 1928. The king received his higher education in Switzerland, in Bangkok and in the USA (Harvard University).

King Bhumibol is a jazz composer and musician, and he played in the past together with some of the most famous jazz musicians, such as Woody Harman, Jack Teagarden, Lionel Hampton and Benny Goodman. The king speaks four languages: Thai, English, French and German.

King Bhumibol and his wife, Queen Sirikit (who was the king’s distant cousin and a daughter of the Thai ambassador to France), have four children: Princess Ubol Ratana (born in 1951), Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn (born in 1952), Princess Mahachakri Sirindhorn (born in 1955), and Princess Chulabhorn (born in 1957).

Although Thailand is a constitutional monarchy, the king is deeply involved in Thai politics. In the past, he supported the Thai military regime, but since 1990s he is considered as one of the mail proponents and facilitators of Thailand’s democracy. Most recently, he has been involved in the political crisis of 2005-2006.