Bhumibol Adulyadej
His Majesty Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX, royal name Phra Chaoyuhao Bhumibol Adulyadej) the Great (born December 5, 1927), has been King of Thailand since 1946. He is the world's longest-serving Head of State, and is the 9th king of the Thai Chakri Dynasty.
He was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in the United States. After a brief period of primary schooling in Bangkok, he left from the age of six with the rest of his family for Switzerland where he continued his secondary education at the Ecole Nouvelle de la Suisse Romande, in Chailly-sur-Lausanne and received the Bachelieres Lettres diploma from the Gymnase Classique Cantonal of Lausanne. He received his university education at the University of Lausanne where he studied law and political science.
Upon the mysterious death of his older brother Ananda Mahidol (officially King Rama VIII), he acceded to the throne on June 9, 1946. However he first continued his education. His uncle, Prince Rangsit, became Prince Regent, until King Bhumibol was officially crowned on May 5, 1950. A few days before, on April 28, he married Mom Rajawongse Sirikit Kitiyakara. They have four children, viz:
- (Formerly HRH) Princess Ubol Ratana, born April 5, 1951;
- HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, born July 28, 1952;
- HRH Crown Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, born April 2, 1955;
- HRH Princess Chulabhorn, born July 4, 1957.