Facets of a selfless monarch

An Essay written by Gig

His Majesty King Bhumibhol Adulyadej was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, on Monday the 5th of December 1927.

King Bhumibol was the third and youngest child of Their Royal Highnesses Prince and Princess Mahidol of Songkhla and a grandson of the celebrated King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) of the present Royal House of Chakri.



After attending primary school in Bangkok, He left with his family to go to Switzerland where He received His secondary and university education. Even after ascending the Thai throne, the King again returned to Switzerland to future His studies, changing His major from chemistry to political science and law in order to equip Himself with the proper knowledge for government. At just 18 years old King Bhumibhol was crowned King Rama the IX of Thailand on the 9th of June 1946.

World War II had just finished and Siam was experiencing many problems. The King traveled throughout the provinces and rural areas of the Kingdom to visit His people. He talked to them and listened to them to find ou how to best serve them. He studied the people’s problems in depth to find a permanent solution.