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HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand passed away today at the age of 88 at Siriraj Hospital in Bangkok.
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HM King Bhumibol ascended to the throne on June 9, 1946, and was the
world’s longest-reigning monarch. He was also known as King Rama IX and
was the ninth monarch in the Chakri Dynasty.
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The well-loved monarch is survived by his wife, Mom Rajawongse
Sirikit Kitiyakara and his children: Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya and
her two daughters; Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn and five sons and
two daughters; Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn and Princess Chulabhorn
Walailak and her two daughters as well as a large extended family.
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He will be succeeded on the throne by his son, Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn.
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Among King Bhumibol’s most widely-praised accomplishments were the
philosophy of Sufficiency Economy, a concept he taught citizens about
living a moderate, self-dependent life without greed or exploitation and
to survive on their own in the age of globalization.
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In his off-hours, he was a keen photographer, jazz saxophone player
and composer, preferring Dixieland and New Orleans-style jazz. He
composed nearly fifty songs, mostly in the genres of blues. He was also
an accomplished painter. An avid animal lover, he published a book about
one of his favorite dogs, a female ginger called Thong Daeng. The book
is called “The Story of Thong Daeng.”
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King Bhumibol was born on December 5, 1927 in Cambridge,
Massachusetts to Prince Mahidol Adulyadej, the Prince of Songkla, and
Sangwan Srinagarindra (later recognized Somdet Ya or Princess
Srinagarindra). He was the youngest son in the family, born while his
father attended Harvard University.
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The King graduated with a political science degree from The
University of Lausanne in Switzerland and got married on April 28, 1950.
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For the last decade, King Bhumibol has had health issues that have
included bacterial infections, breathing difficulties, heart issues and
fluid in the brain.
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Cource: Coconuts.co
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Cource: Coconuts.co
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