HIS MAJESTY KING BHUMIBOL ADULYADEJ, RAMA IX, OF THE KINGDOM OF THAILAND

Biographical Data
His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej of the Kingdom of Thailand was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the United States of America, on Monday 5 December 1927. His Majesty is the third and youngest child of Their Royal Highnesses Prince and Princess Mahidol of Songkla. His Majesty’s name Bhumibol Adulyadej means the Strength of the Land Incomparable Power, which becomes prophetic as his reign advances through various critical periods and the Thai nation evolvesmore andmore around the throne as a vital source of unity and strength.

Prince Mahidol came back to Thailand and passed away when His Majesty was not yet two years old. After a brief period of primary schooling in Bangkok, His Majesty left with the rest of his family for Switzerland where he continued his secondary education at the Ecole Nouvelle de la Suisse Romande, Chailly sur Lausanne and received the Bachelieres Lettres diploma from the Gymnase Classique Cantonal of Lausanne.

He then chose to enter Lausanne University to study Science, but the death of his elder brother, King Ananda Mahidol, in Bangkok on 9 June 1946, changed the course of his life completely, for the Law of Succession bestowed on him the arduous but challenging function of the Thai crown.HisMajesty decided to go back to Switzerland for another period of study, but this time in the subject of Political Science and Lawin order to equip himself with the proper knowledge for government.

The initial reason why His Majesty the King has felt impelled to bring help and benefits to His people can be gleaned from the following passage in the writings of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej as embodied in the work “When I left Siam for Switzerland”, written on 19 August 1946: “…The car passed through the crowd extremely slowly and on approaching Wat Benjamabopitr it began to speed up slightly. At that moment, I heard the sound of someone crying out loud ‘Don’t desert your people!’. I wanted to call back that as long as the people did not ‘desert’ me, how could I ever ‘desert’ them?”

Some twenty years later, His Majesty met with that very person who had pleaded for Him not to desert His people. His Majesty said to the gentleman: “Your wordsmademe aware of my duty and brought me back.”

In 1950, His Majesty returned to Thailand for the Coronation Ceremony which took place on 5 May. Since then, His Majesty has
relentlessly devoted Himself for the well-being of all Thais.

His Majesty met and became engaged on 19 July 1949 to Mom Rajawongse Sirikit, daughter of His Highness Prince Chandaburi Suranath (MomChao Nakkhatra Mangala Kitiyakara) and Mom Luang Bua Kitiyakara (née Mom Luang Bua Snidwongse). His Highness Prince Chandaburi Suranath was the third son of his Royal Highness Prince Chandaburi Narunath and Her Serene Highness Princess Absarasman Kitiyakara.

Their Majesties were married by Her Majesty Queen Sawang Vadhana, the paternal grandmother of His Majesty, at Sra Pathum Palace in Bangkok on 28 April 1950 and Their Majesties have four children namely:

1. Her Royal Highness Princess Ubol Ratana who was born on 5 April 1951, in Lausanne, Switzerland.
2. His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn was born on 28 July 1952, in Bangkok, Thailand, and was conferred with the title of “Somdech Phra Boroma Orasadhiraj Chao Fah Maha Vajiralongkorn Sayam Makutrajakuman” by His Majesty the King on 28 December 1972, making him the Crown Prince or Heir to the Throne.
3. Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn was born on 2 April 1955 in Bangkok, Thailand, and was conferred the title of “Somdech Phra Debaratana Rajasuda Chao FahMaha Chakri Sirindhorn Rathasimakunakornpiyajat Sayam Boroma Rajakumari” by His Majesty the King on 5 December 1977.
4. Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn was born on 4 July 1957 in Bangkok, Thailand.

The Royal Ceremonial Emblem in Commemoration of His Majesty the King’s 80th Birthday
The emblem depicts the privy seal of the Ninth Reign, which is composed of the Octagonal Throne and the Discus (Chakra), in the middle of which is the symbolic letter “Unalom.” Around the Chakra Discus, there are rays in all directions. Above the Chakra Discus is the Seven-Tiered Umbrella over the Octagonal Throne, meaning that His Majesty the King has sovereign power in the realm. At the coronation ceremony, His Majesty sat upon the Octagonal Throne and received consecrated water from the eight cardinal points in accordance with the ancient royal custom, which for the first time was presented by members of parliament instead of royal sages. As for the platform on which rests the Octagonal Throne, it is strewn with nine silver and golden “phikun,” or bullet wood, flowers.

Eighty diamonds, meaning the 80th birthday anniversary, encircle the privy seal. On top of the seal is the Great Crown of Victory, which signifies the royal dignity of the sovereign and symbolizes supreme kingship. Within the Great Crown of Victory is the Thai numeral 9, meaning the Ninth Reign. The Great Crown of Victory is in front of the GreatWhite Umbrella of State, which is in the center and flanked by two Seven-Tiered Umbrellas, marking the great rank of the sovereign. Beneath the privy seal is the Thai number 80,meaning that HisMajesty the King has reached His Eightieth Year.

Under the number 80 is the silk ribbon bearing the words “The Celebrations on the Auspicious Occasion of His Majesty the King’s 80th Birthday Anniversary 5th December 2007.” Apart from naming the royal ceremony, the silk ribbon also supports the two Seven-Tiered Umbrellas.

His Majesty the King’s Benevolence/ UN Awards
Throughout HisMajesty’s reign, as aWorking King, His Majesty’s tireless efforts and activities have clearly demonstrated his unwavering commitment to live by the people of Thailand, regardless of status, ethnicity and religion.

Under the patronage of His Majesty the King, over three thousand “royally-initiated” projects have been launched, addressing a wide spectrum of rural development problems in Thailand, including agriculture, water resources management, forest and fishery conservation, education and occupational promotion, public health, public welfare, and communications. His self-acquired technical knowledge and pragmatic approach applied with local culture and ingenuity have enabled the rural community to lead a more hopeful and constructive life, thereby strengthening the social fabric of the society and fortifying national cohesion and identity.

In fact, His Majesty’s reputation as being the “Development King” derives from His selfdeveloped “Sufficiency Economy Philosophy,” which serves as a guideline for the Thai people from all walks of life to live, behave, and follow the ‘middle path’ in maintaining a stable and durable existence amidst the rapid changes of globalization.

The image of His Majesty as a devoted leader in the field of national development has been widely recognized not only by all Thais, but also by the international community, in particular his wisdom in the area of human development.

In 1991, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) awarded His Majesty the Philae Medal in recognition of His Majesty’s outstanding contributions in rural development and quality of life promotion.

In 1992, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) awarded His Majesty the UNEP Gold Medal of Distinction in recognition of long dedicated, exemplary and eminent contributions to the improvement of the environment and nature conservation.

In 1993, the World Bank presented the Award of Recognition of technical and development accomplishment in the promotion of the vetiver technology international.

In 1994, the United Nations International Drug Control Programme (UNDCP) presented the Award of Appreciation in recognition of His Majesty’s outstanding contributions to drug control efforts in Thailand.

In 1995, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) awarded His Majesty the Agricola Medal in recognition of HisMajesty’s devotion to the well-being and happiness of all people in Thailand, particularly those who till the soil, lend the waters and nurture the forests.

In 1997, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) presented the Award of Recognition of His Majesty’s strong support for meteorology and operational hydrology.

In 1999, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) presented the Tele Food Medal in recognition of His Majesty’s dedication to Thailand’s agriculture development, with the aim of raising the farmers’ standard of living and establishing food security.

In 2000, the World Health Organization (WHO) presented theWHO Plaque in recognition of His Majesty’s unstinting and powerful moral leadership and example in public health.

In 2006, Mr. Kofi Annan, the then Secretary-General of the United Nations presented the UNDP’s “First Human Development Lifetime Achievement Award” to His Majesty for His dedication and life-long contribution to human development. This is the first such award, and His Majesty King Bhumibol is the first to have received it.

In 2007, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has announced it will present the FirstWIPO Global Leaders Award in recognition of His Majesty’s contributions to intellectual property both as an inventor and as an active proponent of intellectual property a tool for development.

Sources of Information

1. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand’s Commemorative Edition Handbook on His Majesty’s Human Development Lifetime Achievement Award (May 2006)
2. The Government Public Relations Department’s Website “the Celebrations on the Auspicious Occasion of His Majesty the King’s 80th Birthday Anniversary, 5th December 2007”
3. UN News Service
   1. Thai King’s Development Agenda, Visionary Thinking Inspiration to People Everywhere, says Secretary-General to Bangkok Panel, and
   2. With new Human Development award, Annan hails Thai King as example for the world.