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Front: King Bhumibol Adulyadej (1927-), King Rama IX of Thailand
King Bhumibol was born at Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
His father, Prince Mahidol (son of King Chulalongkorn), was studying medicine
at Harvard University. At the time of birth, he was known as Phra Ong Chao
(a prince of lesser status than Chao Fa, but higher than Mom Chao) Bhumibol
Adulyadej, reflecting the fact that his mother was a commoner.
Phra Ong Chao Bhumibol attended primary school in Bangkok. At the age of six,
he went with his family to Switzerland where he continued his secondary
education. He graduated high school with major in French literature, Latin,
and Greek. He was studying science at the University of Lausanne when his elder
brother, Phra Ong Chao Ananda Mahidol was crowned King of Thailand. King Ananda
Mahidol (King Rama VIII) then elevated his brother and sister to the Chao Fa
status in 1935. He went back to Thailand briefly in 1938, but returned to
Switzerland for further study until 1945.
Upon premature death of his brother King Ananda Mahidol in 1946, Chao
Fa Bhumibol acceded to the throne. He appointed his uncle, Rangsit, as Prince
Regent so that he can go back to Switzerland to finish his
study. He switched his major to Law and Political Science, as this
would be more useful now that he was becoming king.
While finishing his degree in Switzerland, he visited automobile-manufacturing
plants in Paris frequently. It was in Paris that he first met a distant cousin
of his, Mom Rajawongse Sirikit Kitiyakara, daughter of the Thai ambassador to
France. They were married on April 28, 1950, just a week before his coronation.
He is currently the world's longest-serving head of state.
Back: Statue of King Rama VII
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