His Majesty, King Bhumibol, Rama IX of Thailand was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts on December 5, 1927. This year will celebrate the King’s 87th birthday on Sunday, December 7, 2014. This celebration is also referred to as Thai Father’s day since the King is the symbolic father of Thailand. The King and Queen are revered for they generosity and caring for the Thai people. Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world’s longest-reigning monarch, is revered by many Thais as a unifying force, especially in times of crisis.
His portrait hangs in government buildings and in many shops and homes. The King’s father, Prince Mahidol, was studying medicine at Harvard University at the time of the King’s birth. The King’s grandfather was King Chulalongkorn (Rama V), one of the most famous kings of the Royal House of Chakri. Prince Bhumibol’s father died at an early age and his mother moved to Switzerland where the young prince lead as “ordinary” life as possible. Prince Bhumibol’s interests during this time were photography, tinkering with electrical & mechanical things, and science. While in Switzerland he entered Lausanne University. While in Switzerland he met and fell in love with a charming young Thai lady. They were married just prior to the King’s coronation in 1950. It is worth noting that Thailand has had a constitutional monarchy since 1937. King Bhumibol is the longest reigning king is the world.
About HM The King of Thailand – some interesting facts you may not know!
The King’s complete name is: Phrabat Somdej Phra Paramindra Maha Bhumibol Adulyadej Mahitaladhibet Ramadhibodi Chakrinarubodindara Sayamindaradhiraj Boromanatbophit Or in Thai language: พระบาทสมเด็จพระปรมินทรมหาภูมิพลอดุลยเดช มหิตลาธิเบศรามาธิบดี จักรีนฤบดินทร์ สยามินท ราธิราช บรมนาถบพิตร.
When the King was born (in USA), the hospital room was declared as Thai territory for the duration of the birth so that he can be said to have been born ‘on Thai soil’. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, His Majesty has been awarded more honorary academic degrees than anyone else in the world, a grand total of 136! His Majesty has composed 46 beautiful and eternal songs such as Love at Sundown, Falling Rain, and Near Dawn, which are loved both in Thailand and abroad. His first song, Saeng Thian (Candlelight Blues), was composed in April 1946. On 12 December 2000, the Thai Cabinet approved the proposal by the Office of National Identity Promotion to honour His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand as the Father of Technology of Thailand and also declared 19th October “Thailand’s Technology Day.” He is the world’s only monarch to hold a patent, holding several patents on rainmaking since 1955: the “sandwich” rainmaking patent in 1999 and lately the “supersandwich” patent in 2004.
The King loves Jazz music and can play the piano, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, clarinet, trumpet, and cornet. He has played with many of the world’s most famous Jazz musicians such as Benny Goodman, Jack Teagarden, Lionel Hampton, and Stan Getz. In addition, he is a painter, photographer and best-selling author and translator. His translated works are “Tito” (The biography of Josip Broz Tito, former Yugoslavia president, by Phyllis Auty) and “Nai In Phu Pid Tong Laang Phra” (The Man called Intrepid by William Stephenson). The 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. His favourite sport is sailing, and he won the Southeast Asia Peninsula Games gold medal on 16 December 1967. King Bhumibol Adulyadej, has recently been treated for a swollen intestine and remains in hospital after surgery to remove his gall bladder in October. The health of the King is a subject of keen public concern as he is revered by many Thais as a pillar of national unity and morality. Our congratulations to HM the King on this important day; our best wishes for a speedy recovery and a long life.
