Royal Profile: King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand

King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand was born on 5 December 1927 in the United States as the son of Prince Mahidol Adulyadej and Mom Sangwan. He had two older siblings:

1. Galyani Vadhana, Princess of Naradhiwas (1923-2008)
1. Colonel Aram Rattanakul Serireongrit (1920-1982, m. 1944-1951)
1. Thanpuying Dhasanawalaya Sornsongkram (1945)
1. Sinthu Sornsongkram (m. 1973)
1.  First Lieutenant Jitat Sornsongkram
2. Prince Varananda Dhavaj  (m. 1969, 1922-1990)
2. King Ananda Mahidol (1925-1946)

At barley a year old, he returned to Thailand. At less than two years old, his father died of kidney failure {Source}. 

He began his education in Thailand before his mother took the family to Switzerland. He began school, briefly, at Mater Dei school in Bangkok. In 1933, his mother moved him and his sisters to Switzerland where he attended the École nouvelle de la Suisse romande. 

His childless uncle Prajadhipock abdicated in 1935, his elder brother became the new King Ramaa VIII. However, his family remained in Switzerland and the affiars of the head of state were taken care of by a regency council. The family returned briefly to Thailand in 1938.

He received the baccalauréat des lettres (high-school diploma with a major in French literature, Latin, and Greek) from the Gymnase Classique Cantonal of Lausanne, and by 1945 had begun studying sciences at the University of Lausanne, when World War II ended and the family was able to return to Thailand

Throughout his life, he had many interests-photography, and  music just to name two. In 1934, at the age of 7, he was given a camera as a gift, thus instilling a lifelong love of photography. At the age of 15, he became a jazz enthusiast and began playing the saxophone.

He married Queen Sirikit of Thailand. Together, the following children, children-in-law, and grandchildren:

1. Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya (1951)
1. Peter Ladd Jensen (1972-1998, div)
1. Khun Ploypailin Jensen (1981)
2. Khun Bhumi Jensen (1983-2004)
3. Khun Sirikitiya Jensen (1985)
2. Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn of Thailand (1952)
1. Princess Soamsawali Kitiyakara (1957, m. 1977, div 1993)
1.  Princess Bajrakitiyabha (1978)
2. Yuvadhida Polpraserth(m. 1994-1996)
1. Mom Chao Juthavachara Mahidol (1979)
2. Mom Chao Vacharaesorn Mahidol (1981)
3. Mom Chao Chakriwat Mahidol (1983)
4. Mom Chao Vatchrawee Mahidol (1985)
5. Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana (1987)
3. Srirasmi Suwadee (m. 2001-2007)
1. Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti (2005)
3. Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn (1955)
4. Princess Chulabhorn of Thailand (1957)
1. Virayudh Tishyasarian (m. 1982, div)
1. Princess Sirbhachudhabhorn (1982)
2. Princess Adityadhornkitikhun (1984)