Return to Thailand

Following the sudden death of his brother, His Majesty King Ananda Mahidol, on 9 June 1946, Prince Bhumibol Adulyadej became King Rama IX of the Chakri Dynasty. To prepare himself for his new role, His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej returned to Switzerland to complete his university education. Although science and engineering were his first loves, he realised that he could better serve his people by switching to a degree in law and political science.

At this point his life changed in a new direction. In 1947, while on a visit to France's Fontainebleau, he met M.R. Sirikit Kitiyakara, the daughter of the Thai Ambassador to France. She was studying music and French in Paris, subjects they both loved. Later in 1949, His Majesty who enjoyed composing music and lyrics wrote "Dream of Love, Dream of You" for her.

On 4 October 1948, His Majesty suffered serious injury in an automobile accident. In the weeks of convalescence, he was tended by the 16-year-old M.R. Sirikit. The couple announced their engagement on M.R. Sirikit's 17th birthday (12 August 1949) at the Princess Mother's Villa Vadhana in Lausanne.

The King and his beautiful fiancée returned to Thailand on 24 March 1950 where they were given a joyous welcome. Their wedding was held at Sapathum Palace on the auspicious date of 28 April 1950 with His Majesty's Grandmother, the Dowager Queen Sawang Wadhana, anointing their heads with sandalwood paste, and her new Royal relatives welcoming M.R. Sirikit into the family. They then reviewed the many gifts that had been sent to them including a radio-record player from U.S. President Truman, and a set of Worcester porcelain given by the soon-to-be Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom.

Coronation

At the age of 22, His Majesty was crowned at Amarindra Hall in the Grand Palace on 5 May 1950. Government representatives and members of the National Assembly offered him holy water gathered from eight points of the compass in Thailand and asked him, according to ritual custom, if he desired to be their King. When he assented, the Chief Brahmin presented him with a Nine-Tiered Umbrella as the first symbol of his sovereignty.

After performing several other ancient rites, His Majesty – seated on an octagonal throne of fig wood beneath a seven-tiered white umbrella of state – placed a gold and diamond crown weighing seven kilogrammes on his own head. Thereupon, 101 cannon shots ran out and temple bells across the land tolled simultaneously. Installed on his Throne, His Majesty then proclaimed his first Royal Oath: "We will reign with righteousness, for the benefit and happiness of the Siamese people".

The coronation ceremony was followed by an official audience for diplomats and high-ranking officials.

On the same day, His Majesty also completed two more ceremonies, first, to elevate his royal consort to the title of Somdech Phra Nang Chao (Sirikit) Phra Baromma Rajini, Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, and second, to take a vow before the Supreme Patriarch, the head of the Buddhist clergy, to protect the religion and be acknowledged by eighty of the most senior monks as Head of the Buddhist Church and as the Protector of All Faiths.

The Privy Seal of the Ninth Reign composed of the Octagonal Throne, the Discus (Chakra), in the middle of which is the symbolic letter “Unalome” insignia. Around the Chakra Discus, there are rays radiating in all directions. Above the Chakra Discus is the Seven-Tiered Royal Umbrella over the Octagonal Throne, meaning that His Majesty the King has sovereign power in the realm, for at the Coronation Ceremony His Majesty sat upon the Octagonal Throne and the Members of Parliament presented consecrated water from the eight cardinal points in accordance with ancient Royal custom. This Privy Seal was put in use since the Coronation Ceremony, which formally signified the beginning of the Ninth Reign.