Thailand’s Monarchy

The institution of the monarchy in Thailand is in many ways unique, often difficult for outsiders to fully comprehend. Not only does it have a history going back more than seven hundred years, but it has also managed to preserve its relevance and vitality in the contemporary world. Even though the monarchy in its absolute form ended in 1932, the institution today continues to command deep, universal respect and serves as a unifying element for the country. This was evident in the unprecedented outpouring of public pride and affection that greeted such occasions as His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s 60 th Anniversary of Accession to the Throne and his 80 th Birthday in 2006 and 2007, respectively, and is also apparent in countless other ways, big and small.

The love and reverence the Thai people have for their King stem in large part from the distinctive form the modern monarchy has taken under King Bhumibol’s reign, one that involves a remarkable degree of personal contact. At the same time, it is rooted in attitudes that can be traced to the earliest days of Thailand as a nation and in some of the past rulers who continue to serve as models of kingship.

Background to a Modern Kingship

Thai concepts of monarchy have their origins in Sukhothai, founded in the early part of the 13 th century and generally regarded as the first truly independent Thai kingdom. Here, particularly under the reign of King Ramkhamhaeng the Great (1275-1317), was born the ideal of a paternalistic ruler alert to the needs of his people and aware of the fact that his duty was to guide them, a view markedly different from the divine kingship practiced by the Khmers.

The paternalistic ideal was at times lost during the long Ayutthaya period, when Khmer influence regarding kingship reappeared and the monarch became a lofty, inaccessible figure, rarely seen by most citizens. Nevertheless, the four-century era witnessed the reigns of some remarkable rulers whose achievements were far reaching.

With the founding of the Chakri dynasty in 1782 and the establishment of Bangkok as the capital, kingship was based primarily on adherence to Buddhist concepts of virtue. The Bangkok period has produced a succession of unusually able rulers, capable of meeting a variety of challenges both to the country and to the monarchy itself.

Presently, Thailand is a constitutional monarchy with a democratic form of government. Since 1932, kings of Thailand have exercised their constitutional legislative powers through a bicameral National Assembly, which currently comprises a House of Representatives elected by popular vote and a senate, with one half elected and the other half appointed through the constitutional process. Thai kings exercise executive powers through the cabinet headed by a prime minister, and judicial powers through the law courts. While not directly involved in Thailand's political life, the King exerts a strong moral influence on carefully selected issues.

His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej

King Bhumibol Adulyadej was born in 1972 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in the United States, where his father, Prince Mahidol of Songkhla, was studying medicine. After his father’s death, he lived mostly in Switzerland with his family. He had a relatively normal youth, displaying notable talents in both music and engineering and becoming fluent in 3 European languages – English, French and German – as well as being at ease in different cultures. When his brother died, he became the 9 th Chakri king. Married to Queen Sirikit, King Bhumibol is the father of four grown children. Like the King, all members of the Royal Family perform duties in the interest and welfare of the Thai people.

In his Oath of Accession to the Throne, King Bhumibol Adulyadej pledged to “reign with righteousness for the benefit and happiness of the Siamese people”. In 1955, the King and Queen made a pioneering trip to the impoverished northeast, then an impoverished, remote region that had never seen a ruling monarch in person and that also, with reason, felt neglected by the central government. The response was overwhelming. The decision to bring the monarchy into direct contact with the provincial population was perhaps the most important of all those taken by His Majesty. He has become the most traveled monarch in Thai history, as well as the best informed about a wide range of rural problems and issues.

Known to many as the "working monarch", King Bhumibol traveled the remote rural areas of the vast reaches of his country to develop more complete and first-hand understanding of the livelihoods and hardships of his subjects. During his time on the throne, His Majesty has launched a multitude of development projects to alleviate disease, improve the rural economy, and preserve and protect Thailand's natural environment. A large number of projects result from His Majesty's own experimentation and are royally funded. Projects showing satisfactory results are passed on to the Government for further development.

During the 61 years of King Bhumibol's reign, Thailand has enjoyed steady economic growth. With its agrarian base and dynamic private sector, Thailand boasts a complex export-led economy which embraces the latest technologies and includes tourism, agriculture, manufacturing, minerals, and communications.

His Majesty the King’s 60th anniversary of the Accession to the Throne

On June 9, 2006, citizens of Thailand celebrated the 60th anniversary of the accession to the throne of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej. The Royal Thai Government, the Thai people, and friends around the world organized year-long celebrations to commemorate this joyful and auspicious event. Having reigned for more than half a century, His Majesty is the longest-reigning monarch in the world.

The series of official celebrations started o n June 9. Their Majesties the King and Queen appeared on the balcony of Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall before hundreds of thousands of Thais who showed their deepest loyalty and gratitude to the King by wearing yellow t-shirts, the color of the King. The official royal barge procession on June 12 was attended by the King and Queen as well as royal visitors from 26 other countries. The state banquet was held on June 13 for the royal visitors in the newly constructed Rama IX Throne Hall at the Grand Palace.

On the occasion of the 60 th anniversary of His Majesty’s accession to the throne, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan presented His Majesty King Bhumibol with the United Nations Development Programme’s first Human Development Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his extraordinary contributions to human development.

Throughout 2007, the Government and people of Thailand organized year-long celebrations to commemorate His Majesty the King’s 80 th Birthday Anniversary on 5 December.
Source:

National Identity Board and the Office of the Prime Minister, Thailand into the 2000’s.