Breakaway Destination Guides (International)

H.M. King Bhumibol Rama IX The World's Longest Serving Monarch and Thailand's Beloved King. He reigns with righteousness for the benefit and happiness of the Siamese people.

H.M. King Bhumibol Rama IX was not born in Thailand, as his parents were studying in the United States he entered this world on 5 December 1927 at the Mt. Auburn Hospital in Cambridge Massachusetts. The baby Prince was the third child to Their Highnesses the Prince and Princess Mahidol of Songkhla, Prince Mahidol "a son of the late King Chulalongkorn Rama V", was studying medicine at Harvard University while Princess Mahidol was a nurse who had trained at the Simmons College in Boston.

The King went back to Switzerland to finish his education at Lausanne University and, upon completing his studies, he returned to the Kingdom to be officially crowned. The solemn coronation ceremony was conducted on May 5, 1950 when he stated in his First Oath of Accession to the throne:

June 1946 brought great joy to the people of Thailand for the new King, more formally "Phra Bat Somdej Phra Paramindara Maha Bhumibol Adulyadej", was enthroned as the Ninth King of the Chakri Dynasty at the age of 19. Whist being crowned King of Thailand, the 9th in the Chakri Dynasty (Rama IX), His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great took a sacred oath to rule with Righteousness: "We will reign with righteousness, for the benefits and happiness of the Siamese people." which He has done magnificently, garnering tremendous respect from His people. King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great, the longest reigning monarch in the world. Long Live the King!

Each year on the 5th of May, the Kingdom of Thailand commemorates the day when, in 1950, the Coronation Ceremony was held for His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great, the 9th in the Chakri Dynasty (Rama IX). On the anniversary of the Coronation the day is observed by a series of religious rites lasting for three days. On the first day, the 3rd of May, there is a Buddhist ceremony at Amarindra Vinichai Hall in the Grand Palace dedicated to the ancestors of the Chakri House, in which scriptures are chanted and a sermon is delivered by a high monk. On the second day, the ceremony consists of two parts - a Brahmanic one and a Buddhist one. The third day is Coronation Day. A feast is given to Buddhist monks and the king is dressed in full regalia. At noon, the Royal Thai Army and the Royal Thai Navy each fire a salute of 21 guns. Later this day decorations are bestowed on officials and civilians who have done meritorious services to the state and society.

During the coronation ceremony, The Great White Umbrella of State, the Five Royal Regalia and the Royal Utensils were presented to the King, signifying His Majestic position as well as complete loyalty from his subjects. Not only symbolising the respect due to kingship, these Royal Objects also remind the people of the King's burdens, and his regal responsibilities to his subjects.

Note: it is illegal to sell alcoholic beverages on Buddhist holy days in Thailand.

King Bhumibol Adulyadej enjoys the prerogative of bestowing awards and honours on government employees and ordinary citizens who have served the country with civic, administrative or diplomatic distinction, and to individuals who have rendered great services to the Crown. One distinctive, probably unique feature of Thai royalty is that royal titles are not inherited in perpetuity but lapse gradually over five generations, Thai titles descend through Chao Fa. Phra Ong Chao. Mom Chao, Mom Rajawongse. and Mom Luang. The children of anyone rank inherit the next lowest rank on the father's side, so that a male Mom Chao's male or female child is a Mom Rajawongse, while a male Mom Luang's child is a plain Mister or Miss. Once titles have lapsed, families of royal descent can add Na Ayutthaya. or "of Ayutthaya," to their surnames to indicate royal ancestry.

Prior to the reign of King Rama IV (King Mongkut), there was no coronation ceremony in Thailand, there was only private ceremony held by high ranking officials to celebrate their Royal Regalia and positions in the 6th lunar month. The first coronation in Thailand took place when King Mongkut Rama IV was crowned on May 15th, 1851. King Mongkut thought that the Coronation was an auspicious occasion, but found it difficult to explain the meaning to his subjects in detail. To simply the meaning he called the day a 'ceremony to commemorate the Royal Regalia'. It was then celebrated on the 13th of the full moon in the 6th lunar month and the following day monks were invited to have a meal at the Dusit Maha Prasart Throne Hall in Grand Palace.

H.M. King Bhumibol Rama IX 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, 'Siam Boromrajakumari' (Princess Royal of Siam). Her title is often translated by the English-language press as 'Crown Princess', although her official English-language title is simply 'Princess'.

The constitution was amended to allow the Privy Council to appoint a princess as successor to the throne, this would only occur in the absence of an heir apparent. This amendment is retained in Section 23 of the 1997 'People's Constitution'. This effectively signalled 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 reigning King. According to Gothom Arya, former Election Commissioner, this allows the reigning King, if he so chooses, to appoint his son or any of his daughters to the Throne.

The Garuda, in Thai mythology is known as the king of birds. A mythical half-bird, half-human figure which in Hindu legend served as the mount for the god Vishnu, adorns King Bhumibol Adulyadej's sceptre and royal standard, as in former times the King was considered an incarnation of Vishnu; thus it is used on Government stationary and as badges on caps for civil service officials as technically government endeavours are in the service of the King. Moreover, the Garuda signifies the concept of "By Royal Appointment" and the symbol is awarded, at His Majesty's personal discretion, as a sign of royal approval to business companies that have rendered outstanding economic and charitable services to Thailand. Such an award is rarely bestowed.

Being in possession of a Garuda statue with the pronouncement "With His Majesty the King's Royal Permission" is considered the greatest honour for a private company in Thailand.

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