The Queen’s Birthday

         Her Majesty Queen Sirikit was born on Friday, August 12, 1932, as the eldest daughter of His Highness Prince Chandaburi Suranath and Mom Luang Bua Kitiyakara. Her Majesty was born with the royal title of Mom Rajawongse and her name “Sirikit”, which means “Glory to the Kitiyakara Family”, was given by His Majesty King Prajadhipok (Rama VII).
         Mom Rajawongse Sirikit began her studies at Rajini School or the Queen’s School and during World War II she transferred t St.Francis Xavier Convent School in Bangkok. At the end of the Second World War, her father was appointed the Thai Minister to France and Denmark and full Ambassador to the United Kingdom. She thus accompanied him and continued her education in Europe here she met His Majesty King Bhumibol.

          Their Majesties became engaged on July 19, 1949 and in March of the following year, His Majesty, accompanied by the Royal Family and Mom Rajawongse Sirikit and her family, returned to Thailand for the Cremation Ceremony of His Majesty King Ananda Mahidol. (Rama VII). The Royal wedding took place at 9.30 a.m. on Friday, April 28, 1950 at Sra Pathum Palace. On May 5 of the same year there followed the Coronation of His Majesty King Bhumibol.

Their Majesties have four children, namely;
1. H.R.H. Princess Ubol Ratana, born on the 5th of April 1951, in Lausanne, Switzerland.
2. H.R.H. Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, born on the 28th of July 1952 in Bangkok.
3. H.R.H. Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, born on the 2nd of April 1955 in Bangkok.
4. H.R.H. Princess Chulabhorn, born on the 4th of July 1957 in Bangkok.

          In 1956, when His Majesty King Bhumibol entered the monkhood for two weeks, Her Majesty was appointed as his Regent. During that period, Her Majesty performed her duties so successfully that, on the recommendation of the government, Her Majesty was given a royal title of higher distinction: “Somdejphra Borom Rajininath”
          Apart from being a royal wife and mother, Her Majesty the Queen also dedicates her tireless efforts for the betterment of the Thai people and the entire nation. The Queen spends much time enefitin to rural areas to find sources of supplementary income in the off-season or in the areas affected by drought or floods. In order to help poor people in rural areas make both ends meet, The Foundation for the Promotion of Supplementary Occupations and Related techniques (SUPPORT) was established on July 21, 1976 under Her Majesty’s patronage. The foundation has achieved remarkable success, today thousands of rural folks and their families are enefiting from Her Majesty’s countless efforts and initiatives.
          As a tribute to Her Majesty’s boundless contributions for the happiness of the entire population and the prosperity of the nation as a whole, August 12 is now a public holiday. We join all loyal and devoted subjects of the kingdom in wishing Her Majesty the Queen a long life of good health and happiness.

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King’s Birthday

         His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great was born on December 5, 1927 to Prince Mahidol of Songkhla and Mom Sangwan. His Majesty is the ninth King of the Chakri Dynasty and the longest-reigning monarch in the history of Thailand.
         His Majesty the King is well recognised as the heart and soul of the Thai nation. He is held in high esteem not only by his own subjects, but His Majesty also commands enormous respect from people in all parts of the world.
         Everywhere he goes, people turn up to greet him in hundreds of thousands. The manner in which His Majesty conducts himself, giving his whole heart and attention to the people, immediately linked the living symbol of the nation to the people in a bond of mutual understanding and personal affection.
         The main concern of His Majesty is for the uplifting of the general well-being of the people. Evidence of this can be drawn from His Majesty the King’s ceaseless efforts to visit his subjects in the rural areas. The aim of His Majesty’s visits is to learn at first hand about the needs of his subjects.

          To obtain such information, his Majesty has to travel many thousands of kilometres throughout the kingdom and, whenever possible, suggests ways to overcome the difficulties. These visits have led to the establishment of over 1,000 Royal and Royally-initiated projects. They are implemented by the relevant agencies of the government after having been given advice and assistance by His Majesty.
          His Majesty is the first member of the Royal Family to be granted a patent for an invention. The registered patent is for one of His Majesty’s “Chai Pattana Machines”-the Chai Pattana Aerator Model RX 2. The patent rights call it an “apparatus” for water treatment”, which is used for agricultural and industrial purposes and can be seen operating in many polluted water ways.
          Buddhism is the national religion of Thailand and His Majesty constantly shows himslef to be a convinced and dedicated disciple of the Lord Buddha. To follow the tradition of young Buddhist men to go into the monastery for a period of time, His Majesty entered the Buddhist monkhood at Wat Bovornnives on 22 October 1956. The Constitution of Thailand, however, does not prescribe the King to be only the Defender of the Buddhist Faith, but also to be the upholder of all Religions. He gives equal attention to the protection of all forms of worship and also to the problems of other religious communities in Thailand.
          His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great came to the throne on June 9, 1946. The meaning of his name is “Strength of the Land, incomparable Power”. Since that date he has reigned over the Kingdom of Thailand as a constitutional monarch. At the Coronation Ceremony on May 5, 1950, His Majesty the King pronounced the traditional Oath of Accession which stated: -“We will reign with righteousness for the benefit and happiness of the Siamese people”. His Majesty’s actions since then have thoroughly reflected those words and have always been directed towards increasing the welfare and prosperity of the Thai nation.
          On his birthday, which is observed as a National Holiday, all his subjects rejoice in demonstrating once more their affection and loyalty to him. Religious rites are held, houses and buildings are decorated with flags, lights and his portraits. The whole nation prays to the Holy Triple Gem and all the sacred things in the universe to bless His Majesty with good health and happiness and the strength to carry on his onerous task.

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