THAILAND: COUNTRY MARKS GOLDEN JUBILEE OF KING BHUMIBOL ADULYADEJ (1)

(9 Jun 1996) Thai/Nat
There have been celebrations across Thailand to mark the golden jubilee of king Bhumibol Adulyadej.
His 50 year reign has seen Thailand grow from a rural agrarian society to the manufacturing hub of booming Southeast Asia.
With pomp and ceremonies, Thailand celebrated the golden jubilee of its king - the longest serving monarch in the world. .
The King arrived with Queen Siriket at the gold pavilion specially built for the occasion.
Buddhist monks were given alms by Bhumibol.
They chanted as he lit incense to honor his ancestors.
The celebrations were watched live on TV by Thailand's 60 (m) million people.
Wearing heavy gold robes in Bangkok's leaden heat, the sixty-eight year old Bhumibol accepted homage from the royal family, political, military and religious leaders.
The crown prince and the Prime Minister Banharn Siloa-archa led the ceremony to congratulate the King.
The King thanked the people for their support over the past 5 decades.
The royal fervor unleashed by the Golden Jubilee pushed aside troubling questions about the monarchy's future.
Bhumibol took the throne June 9, 1946 - just 14 years after a military coup ended the monarchy's absolute powers - following the death of his elder brother, King Ananda
Mahidol.
Bhumibol's reign encompasses a turbulent half century. By one count, he has seen 15 constitutions, 17 coups and 21 prime ministers.
The key institutions of Thailand's society joined to congratulate the King.
If the celebrations are anything to go by it is clear that the popularity of Thailand's monarch stands undiminished.
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