There are two building complexes today associated with the monarchy: the Grand Palace, over 200 years old, and Chitrlada Villa of Dusit Palace, the much smaller and less ornate residence which King Bhumibol Adulyadej has chosen as his familyΓÇÖs Bangkok residence.
The resplendent Grand Palace, a 60-acre enclosure on the Chao Phraya River, is one of ThailandΓÇÖs best-known landmarks. Today it houses the offices of His MajestyΓÇÖs Principal Private Secretary, the Bureau of the Royal Household, the Royal Institute, and some offices of the Treasury Department. The earliest buildings in the palace compound, regarded as masterpieces of classic Thai architecture, were constructed in the reign of King Rama I, founder of the Royal House of Chakri, and extensive additions in both Thai and Western styles were made by subsequent rulers. Though the King no longer makes his home in the Grand Palace, its historic buildings are still nonetheless used for most of the important ceremonies associated with the Thai monarchy.
Royal coronations, for example, take place in the Phra Thinang Paisan Thaksin, one of a group of early structures of royal residences and throne halls known as the Phra Maha Monthien. This magnificently decorated hall contains, among other things, the Octagonal Throne, from which the King formally receives the invitation from representatives of the people to rule over the kingdom, and the Phatthrabit Throne, from which he receives the Royal Regalia, the Royal Utensils, and the Royal Weapons of Sovereignty. The adjoining Amarin Winitchai Throne Hall originally served as the Principal Audience Hall and is still used for the Grand Audience on His MajestyΓÇÖs Royal Birthday Anniversary and for Royal Religious Ceremonies throughout the year.
The Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall, also built by King Rama I, provides the setting for the annual Buddhist and Brahmin Coronation Day Anniversary Rites. It is also a custom to place the remains of Kings, Queens, and senior members of the Royal Family in this hall prior to their cremation.
The Chakri Maha Prasat Throne Hall, a largelyestern-style throne hall built by His MajestyΓÇÖs grandfather, King Chulalongkorn, between 1876 and 1882, is used for royal dinners and receptions and is also the place where King Bhumibol Adulyadej receives the credentials of newly arrived foreign ambassadors to Thailand.
Wat Phra Kaew, or the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, which occupies one section of the palace compound, serves as the royal chapel and houses ThailandΓÇÖs most revered Buddha image. His Majesty performs a number of important religious ceremonies here during the year, among them the ritual changing of the imageΓÇÖs jewel-encrusted regalia at the beginning of the hot, cool, and rainy seasons.
Chitrlada Villa serves not merely as a Royal Residence in Bangkok, but also performs a number of other functions. Within the same compound are a hospital which serves the royal staff and needy people, a school, and assorted experimental agricultural facilities, open to students from various schools.
In addition, four other royal palaces are maintained at Hua Hin on the east coast of the Gulf of Thailand, the northern city of Chiang Mai, Sakon Nakhon in the northeast, and Narathiwat in the south.
Throughout the year their majesties the king and queen, together with members of the royal, use these palaces as base from which they start on their daily working visit to the need people in all a regions of the country.
Other Aspects of the Monarchy
One of King Bhumibol AdulyadejΓÇÖs most spectacular legacies from his ancestors is his fleet of ornately carved royal barges. Largely gold and scarlet, these were mostly constructed during the reigns of early Chakri kings and resemble the barges that were used by Ayutthaya kings in battle and for transport. Powered by brilliantly-costumed, chanting oarsmen, they have been used to carry His Majesty to the riverside Wat Arun (the Temple of Dawn) to present monks with robes after the annual Rains Retreat.
Another royal prerogative ensures that all ΓÇ£whiteΓÇ¥elephants found in Thailand (known as ΓÇ£auspiciously significant elephantsΓÇ¥) become the KingΓÇÖs exclusive property. The discovery of one of these animals is considered an auspicious omen, the elephants being presented to the monarch so that his reign may prosper. Regarded as an honorary human being, each ΓÇ£auspiciously significant elephantΓÇ¥ is awarded a lordly title and thereafter leads a correspondingly lordly life. King Bhumibol Adulyadej has had seventeen white elephants (eleven still living), the most any Thai king has ever owned, which is regarded as an extremely auspicious sign for the success of his reign.
The Garuda, a mythical half-bird, half-human figure which in Hindu legend served as the mount for the god Vishnu, adorns King Bhumibol AdulyadejΓÇÖs sceptre and royal standard, as in former times the King was considered an incarnation of Vishnu; thus it is used on government stationary and as badges on caps for civil service officials, since technically government endeavours are in the service of the King. Moreover, the Garuda signifies the concept of ΓÇ£By Royal AppointmentΓÇ¥ and the symbol is awarded at His MajestyΓÇÖs personal discretion as a sign of royal approval to business companies that have rendered outstanding economic and charitable services to Thailand. Such an award is rarely bestowed and is considered a great honour by recipients.
As do other monarchs, King Bhumibol Adulyadej enjoys the prerogative of bestowing awards and honours on government employees and ordinary citizens who have served the country with civic, administrative, or diplomatic distinction, and to individuals who have rendered great service to the Crown. One distinctive, probably unique feature of Thai royalty is that royal titles are not inherited in perpetuity but lapse gradually over five generations. Thai titles descend through Chao Fa, Phra Ong Chao, Mom Chao, Mom Rajawongse, and Mom Luang. The children of one rank inherit the next lower rank on the fatherΓÇÖs side, so that a male Mom ChaoΓÇÖs male or female child is a Mom Rajawongse, while a male Mom LuangΓÇÖs child is a plain Mister or Miss. Once titles have lapsed, families of royal descent can add ΓÇ£Na Ayutthaya,ΓÇ¥ or ΓÇ£of Ayutthaya,ΓÇ¥ to their surnames to indicate royal ancestry.
A Monarchy for the Times
Adhering to the traditional close relationship between king and people yet daring to be innovative, ThailandΓÇÖs modern monarchy meets needs that are at once old and new. This makes it the central element in the traditional Thai triad of nation, king, and religion, binding the diverse elements of the country in a literal as well as symbolic way. Much of its extraordinary success is due to the dedication and personal example of the ninth Chakri king, who in 1987 was popularly acclaimed as ΓÇ£Maharaj,ΓÇ¥ or King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great, by his loyal and loving subjects.
