His Majesty Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej was born in the U.S. state of Massachusetts on Monday, December 5, 1927. Having reigned since June 9, 1946, he is the world's longest-serving current head of state and the longest-serving monarch in Thai history.
Tens of thousands of people in yellow shirts and waving yellow flags today packed the streets around the Grand Palace in Bangkok where Bhumibol made a rare public appearance from the balcony of his ceremonial Throne Hall — only the sixth such appearance in his 61-year reign.
Maybe sensing a potentially divisive general election on December 23, the 80-year-old King Bhumibol who just recovered from a recent stroke, appealed to his people for unity to safeguard the nation during his annual birthday speech.
"Whether soldiers or civilians, (we) must be united, like our legs that must be united which means one goes forward and one pushes back before moving forward," he said. "This way, we could walk without falling. Without unity, the country will face disaster."