Life of Thai King Bhumibol, the world’s longest reigning monarch

Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej died after a long illness on Thursday, ending a remarkable seven-decade reign and leaving a divided people bereft of a towering and rare figure of unity. (AFP)

Updated on: Oct 13, 2016 6:35 PM IST

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Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej died after a long illness on Thursday, ending a remarkable seven-decade reign and leaving a divided people bereft of a towering and rare figure of unity. (AFP)

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An undated file photo of Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej who died on October 13, 2016. King Bhumibol spent much of his early life abroad, first in the United States and then in Switzerland. (AFP)

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In this March 7, 1935, file photo, Prince Bhumibol, left, stands with his brother, King Ananda Mahidol of Siam, now known as Thailand, at their school in Lausanne Switzerland. King Bhumibol was born in 1927 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where his father, Prince Mahidol, was then studying medicine. (AP)

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This file photo taken on January 01, 1946 shows King of Siam Rama VIII or Ananda Mahidol of Thailand stands during an official ceremony on January 1946 in Bangkok after his return from Switzerland to Thailand. Rama VIII born on September 20, 1925 in Heidelberg, Germany, was mostly away pursuing his studies in Switzerland before returning to Thailand in 1945. On June 9, 1946 he was found dead in his bed of a mysterious gunshot wound at the palace in Bangkok. His brother King Bhumibol Adlyadej succeeded him on the throne. (AFP)

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This file picture released in September 1949 shows Sirikit Kitiyakara, then the fiancee of Bhumibol Adulyadej (L), the future Thai King. (AFP)

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(FILES) This file picture released in April 1951 shows Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit posing with their first child Princess Ubol Ratana. Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej has died after a long illness, the palace announced on October 13, 2016, ending a remarkable seven-decade reign and leaving a divided people bereft of a towering and rare figure of unity. / AFP PHOTO / STR (AFP)

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This file combination picture released in 1955 shows Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit posing with their first two children Princess Ubol Ratana and Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn. (AFP)

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This file photo taken on July 1, 1960 shows Thai Queen Sirikit (2nd L) and King Bhumibol Adulyadej (L) being greeted by Britain's Queen Elizabeth II (R) and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, upon their arrival in London. (AFP)

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In this July 5, 1960, file photo, Bhumibol Adulyadej, right, plays the saxophone during a jam session with legendary jazz clarinetist Benny Goodman, left, drummer Gene Krupa, second left, and trombonist Urbie Green in New York. (AP)

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This file photo taken on October 11, 1960 shows Bhumibol Adulyadej (L) riding with French President Charles de Gaulle upon his arrival at Orly airport, south of Paris. (AFP)

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This file photo taken on December 5, 1999 shows (L-R) Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Sirikit appearing at a balcony of Anantasamakom Throne Hall in Bangkok to mark the King's birthday. (AFP)

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This file photo taken on December 2, 2006 shows Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej (R) reviewing the honour guard next to Queen Sirikit as part of celebrations to commemorate his 79th birthday at the Royal Plaza in Bangkok. (AFP)

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This file handout released by Thailand's Royal Bureau on October 23, 2009 shows well-wishers kneeling before Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej as he sits in a wheelchair during an appearance at a hospital in Bangkok. (AFP)

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In this Dec. 5, 2012, file photo, Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej, seated centre, and his family members, from left: Princess Somsavali, Princess Ubolratana, Princess Chulabhorn, Princess Siribhachudabhorn, Royal Consort Princess Srirasm, Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti, Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn, Princess Sirindhorn; after addressing the crowd from a balcony of the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall on his 85th birthday in Bangkok. (AP)

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This file handout from the White House taken on November 18, 2012 shows US President Barack Obama(C), then secretary of state Hillary Clinton (2nd L) and ambassador Kristie Kenney(L) meeting with Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej (2nd R) at Siriraj Hospital in Bangkok. (AFP)

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Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej arrives in a van at Siriraj hospital in Bangkok in this August 6, 2014 file photo. (REUTERS)

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Supporters of King Bhumibol cry during a vigil outside a Bangkok hospital on October 13, 2016, as their ailing King Bhumibol breathed his last on Thursday. He was the world’s longest monarch in rule. (AFP)