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King Bhubimol Adulyadej

Thai King Ananda Mahidol at a ceremony in Bangkok after his return from Switzerland to Thailand in 1946. Photo: AFP

Did Thai King Ananda shoot himself to death? New probe sought into 1946 case

According to official investigations, the monarch, who was found lying face up in bed with a gunshot wound on his head, was murdered.

5 Apr 2024 - 2:00PMvideocam

Thai king reduces former PM Thaksin’s prison sentence to one year

2 Sep 2023 - 1:27AMvideocam

Thai election: Thaksin’s daughter Paetongtarn confirmed as PM candidate

5 Apr 2023 - 9:14PMvideocam

Letters | Thailand offers empowering philosophy of sustainable growth

Thailand’s Sufficiency Economy Philosophy supports neighbouring countries to attain economic security, food security and self-sufficiency. The success of SEP projects also contributes towards peace, prosperity and closer people-to-people ties, which can apply to cooperation with countries beyond the region.

17 Jul 2021 - 7:15AMvideocam

A view of Bangkok’s port along the Chao Phraya River at sunset on June 2. Thailand has been promoting its homegrown Sufficiency Economy Philosophy (SEP) as an alternative approach to achieving UN Sustainable Development Goals. Photo: Reuters

Thailand protests explained

28 Oct 2020 - 10:43AM

Police fire water cannon at protesters as Thai PM steps up crackdown

Two men will be charged with attempted violence against Queen Suthida for jeering at her motorcade.

16 Oct 2020 - 11:14PMvideocam

Thailand’s new army chief rules out coup, defends monarchy

The new army chief took a softer line to dissenting political voices, as the country marked the anniversary of the 1976 massacre in which 46 students died.

15 Oct 2020 - 5:56PMvideocam

Thailand Army Chief General Narongpan Jittkaewtae holds his first media briefing since his appointment, pledging to defend country, the Buddhist religion, the monarchy and the people. Photo: AP

Thailand delays decision on amending constitution as protesters gather

Anti-government protesters have been calling for the removal of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha and less power for the monarchy.

15 Oct 2020 - 5:57PMvideocam

Why China named the Thai royal consort after TV’s Empresses in the Palace

The real life ‘Thai Zhen Huan’? Chinese netizens have been quick to point out the similarities between Thailand’s reinstated royal consort Sineenat and the hit TV show’s fictional concubine

9 Sep 2020 - 12:08PM

Why Thai youth challenging the monarchy is an ‘incredibly dangerous moment’

Opposition to Thai royalty has been used for years to justify coups, send political opponents to prison or exile or even kill them.

15 Oct 2020 - 5:54PMvideocam

Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn with Queen Suthida (right) and his daughter Princess Bajrakitiyabha Mahidol. Photo: AFP

5 things to know about Thai princess Bajrakitiyabha

Princess Bajrakitiyabha has a string of law degrees, campaigns for the rights of prisoners, and has served as a diplomat

19 Nov 2019 - 4:00PM

Princess Bajrakitiyabha has followed in her mother’s footsteps by taking a keen interest in social welfare. She is in charge of the Kamlangjai project, which helps ensure that incarcerated Thai women, particularly those who are pregnant or mothers, are given the help they need to go back into society when they are released. Photo: Instagram

4 things you should know about Thailand’s Queen Suthida

The Thai king and queen have been married for less than a year and Queen Suthida has not been in the public eye for very long – here’s what we know so far

15 Nov 2019 - 3:00PM

5 things to know about Thailand’s disgraced ex-princess

She had to leave her son behind when she and her family were imprisoned for crimes against the Thai royal family, but no one has seen Srirasmi Suwadee since 2014

13 Nov 2019 - 3:34PM

5 things to know about Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s wealth

Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn is estimated to be worth up to US$43 billion. We look at his shares and properties, his women, his jewellery and his education

12 Nov 2019 - 1:23PM

Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn at an event commemorating the death of his father, King Chulalongkorn at the Royal Plaza in Bangkok on October 23, 2019. Photo: Reuters

Is Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn a modern-day Henry VIII?

Just three months after being named Thailand’s first Noble Royal Consort in almost 100 years, former nurse Sineenat Wongvajirapakdi was stripped of her title

15 Nov 2019 - 2:55PM

Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn poses with former royal noble consort Sineenat Bilaskalayani, also known as Sineenat Wongvajirapakdi, who was dramatically stripped of all her royal titles by the palace on October 21 – a shock move less than three months after she was bestowed with a position that had not been used for nearly a century. Photo: AFP/Thailand’s Royal Office

Thailand’s king strips royal consort of her titles over ‘disloyalty’

Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn has removed the title, ranking and medals bestowed on his consort, former army nurse Sineenat Bilaskalayani.

21 Oct 2019 - 11:50PM

Thailand marks 3 years since king’s death

14 Oct 2019 - 3:11PM

Ceritalah | With Prem Tinsulanonda gone, who will be the Thai King’s new counsel?

Prem and King Bhumibol formed one of Southeast Asia’s powerful political partnerships, alongside Lee Kuan Yew and Goh Keng Swee in Singapore and Mahathir Mohamad and Daim Zainuddin in Malaysia.

9 Sep 2019 - 9:00PM

Prime Minister Prem Tinsulanonda and Thailand's King Bhumibol in 1981. Photo: AP

Thai palace releases rare images of king’s royal consort

Images are both candid and action-packed, including photos of Sineenat Wongvajirapakdi aiming a weapon on a firing range, piloting a plane, and preparing to parachute.

28 Aug 2019 - 10:59AM

Haircut bearing Thai king’s face divides royalists on his 67th birthday

Devoted monarchist Mitree Mike Chitinunda says his decision to have a portrait of King Maha Vajiralongkorn shaved on his head is an expression of love.

28 Jul 2019 - 11:12PM

Thailand’s queen mother admitted to hospital with fever

Sirikit, who is seldom seen in public, is mother to the current King Maha Vajiralongkorn.

17 Apr 2019 - 9:13PM

Queen Sirikit was admitted to hospital after developing a fever, the Royal Household Bureau said. Photo: Reuters

Explainer | Thai election a battle royale for junta’s Prayuth and the Shinawatras

Five years after the latest in a long string of coups, democracy is back in town in Thailand. Or at least, that’s what it looks like. But in Sunday’s election, winning the most votes and winning power are not the same thing.

25 Mar 2019 - 10:01AMvideocam

Pro-democracy demonstrators with images of Thai Prime Minister and junta leader Prayuth Chan-ocha. Photo: EPA

Princess to Prayuth: who’s who in Thailand’s Game of Thrones

As Thailand embraces democracy and heads to the polls, here are the royal family members, army generals and exiled politicians who could influence the vote

21 Mar 2019 - 1:46PM

Thai party that nominated princess for PM faces dissolution

The Thai Raksa Chart party is allied with populist former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

13 Feb 2019 - 10:02PM

Thailand’s Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya running for PM

No Thai royal has ever run for political office at the highest level

21 Mar 2019 - 1:49PM

From left: Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya (L), Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun, Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn and Princess Chulabhorn Walailak in 2016. Photo: EPA

Thailand drops royal insult charges for burning portraits of kings

The country’s tough lèse-majesté laws have seen no fresh prosecutions this year in what one rights lawyer said ‘appears to be a new policy direction’.

20 Sep 2018 - 10:27PM

Six young Thais accused of setting portraits of the current and previous king on fire have been granted rare acquittals, their lawyer says. Photo: AFP

Thailand’s Queen Sirikit admitted to hospital

20 Aug 2018 - 12:38PM

Thai king takes control of US$30 billion royal fortune

17 Jun 2018 - 10:08PM

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King Bhubimol Adulyadej

Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej, also known as Rama IX, was the longest-serving head of state and monarch in Thai history, serving for 70 years. He died on October 13, 2016, following several years of illness. Widely respected at home and abroad, he was credited with restoring the prestige of the previously floundering institution of Thai monarchy and unifying a country beset with deep-seated political divisions.

Born

5 Dec 1927

Industry

Monarchy

Job Title

Former King of Thailand

last updated:

7 October, 2024