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Bhumibol Adulyadej Age, Biography, Wife & More

bhumibol-adulyadej

Bio
Real NameBhumibol Adulyadej
NicknameKing Bhumibol the Great, "the King," "Lord Upon our Heads," Chao Chiwit ("Lord of Life")
ProfessionMonarch
Physical Stats & More
Height (approx.)in centimeters- 170 cm
in meters- 1.70 m
in Feet Inches- 5’ 7”
Weight (approx.)in Kilograms- 64 kg
in Pounds- 141 lbs
Personal Life
Date of Birth5 December 1927
Place of BirthCambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.
Date of Death13 October 2016
Place of DeathSiriraj Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand
Age (as on 13 October 2016)88 Years
Zodiac sign/Sun signSagittarius
NationalityThai
HometownBangkok, Thailand
SchoolMater Dei Institute of Education, Drumcondra, Dublin City, Ireland
Gymnase Classique Cantonal of Lausanne
College/UniversityUniversity of Lausanne, Switzerland
Educational QualificationsBaccalauréat des lettres (high-school diploma with a major in French literature, Latin, and Greek) from Gymnase Classique Cantonal of Lausanne
Studied Science at the University of Lausanne, Switzerland
Dynasty Chakri
TitlesHis Highness Prince Bhumibol Adulyadej- 5 December 1927 – September 1929
His Royal Highness Prince Bhumibol Adulyadej- September 1929 – 10 July 1935
His Royal Highness Prince Bhumibol Adulyadej, the Prince Brother- 10 July 1935 – 9 June 1946
His Majesty The King- 9 June 1946 – 13 October 2016
FamilyFather- Mahidol Adulyadej (Prince of Songkla)
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Mother- Srinagarindra (The Princess Mother)
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Brother- Ananda Mahidol (Former King of Thailand)
bhumibol-adulyadej-with-his-elder-brother-right
Sister- Galyani Vadhana
bhumibol-adulyadej-with-his-sister
ReligionTheravada Buddhism
EthnicityThai
HobbiesPainting, Sailing, Playing Saxophone, Listening to Jazz Music, Photography, Reading, Writing
Favourite Things
Favorite MusicJazz
Favorite SportsSailing
Girls, Affairs and More
Marital StatusMarried
Marriage Date28 April 1950
Affairs/GirlfriendsNot Known
WifeSirikit
bhumibol-adulyadej-with-his-wife
ChildrenSon- Vajiralongkorn (Crown Prince of Thailand)
Daughters- Sirindhorn (Princess of Thailand), Chulabhorn Walailak, Ubolratana Rajakanya (Film Actress)
bhumibol-adulyadej-with-his-wife-and-children
Money Factor
Net Worth$30 Billion

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Some Lesser Known Facts About Bhumibol Adulyadej

  • Does Bhumibol Adulyadej smoke?: Not Known
  • Does Bhumibol Adulyadej drink alcohol?: Not Known
  • He was born to Mahidol Adulyadej (Prince of Songkla) and Srinagarindra (the Princess Mother) at Cambridge Hospital in Massachusetts, United States.
  • The name on his U. S. Birth Certificate was- Baby Songkla as his parents had to consult his uncle- King Rama VII (Prajadhipok), who was the then head of the House of Chakri, to suggest a name for him.
  • Bhumibol was the only monarch to be born in the United States as at the time of his birth, his father was enrolled in a public health program at the Harvard University.
  • In 1928, Bhumibol came to Thailand from the United States.
  • In September 1929, his father died of Kidney failure when Bhumibol was less than 2 years old.
  • In 1933, his family moved to Switzerland after the death of his father. He took his education in Switzerland.
  • He had a great interest in photography and was filled with enthusiasm when he was given a camera in 1934. bhumibol-adulyadej-doing-photography
  • In 1935, his elder brother- Anand (9 years old at that time) became the new King of Thailand after his childless uncle- Prajadhipok was abdicated.
  • He became a Jazz enthusiast in 1942 and also developed interest in playing saxophone which he kept throughout his life. bhumibol-adulyadej-playing-saxophone
  • After the end of the Second World War, he returned to Thailand along with his family.
  • On 9 June 1946, he ascended the throne after his brother- Ananda Mahidol died by a mysterious gunshot wound.
  • He met his future wife- Mom Rajawongse Sirikit Kitiyakara in Paris who was the daughter of a Thai Ambassador to France.
  • On 4 October 1948, he lost vision in his right eye when he met an accident while driving a Fiat Topolino on the Geneva-Lausanne road.
  • His coronation took place at the Royal Palace in Bangkok on 5 May 1950, when he became the Crowned King of Thailandbhumibol-adulyadej-coronation-day
  • In the initial days of his tenure as the King of Thailand, he had no real political powers and was merely a ceremonial king.
  • Bhumibol played a key role in 1992, in the transition of Thailand to a democratic system.
  • On 13 October 2016, he died of his chronic illness in Siriraj Hospital.
  • He was the 9th monarch of Thailand and was considered as world’s longest-serving head of state (from 9 June 1946 to 13 October 2016).
  • During his reign as the King of Thailand, he was served by 30 Prime Ministers.