Thailand's King Rama IX nears 70 years - Platinum Jubilee - on the throne

[-:Undertaker:-]

Thailand's King Rama IX nears 70 years - Platinum Jubilee - on the throne

World's longest currently reigning monarch in two days time will mark 70 years on the throne amid failing health

On the 10th June 1946, King Rama IX came to the throne of Thailand and has been Head of State ever since. He's the world's longest currently reigning monarch/Head of State and in two days time Thailand will mark 70 years on the Throne otherwise known as a Platinum Jubilee.

To put this milestone into context, Queen Elizabeth II just celebrated not long ago 64 years on the throne and turned 90. If she is to also pass the 70 years milestone, then she would need to be reigning in February 2022 at the age of 95 years old. King Rama IX is 88 years old.

A very impressive length of reign. It's pretty weird to think that Thailand has had the same Head of State since 1946. Let that sink in.

It has just came out that the King, who isn't in the best of health for the past few years, has just undergone heart surgery.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-36472973

Thailand's 88-year-old king, the world's longest-reigning monarch, has undergone heart surgery, the Thai Royal Household Bureau said.

King Bhumibol Adulyadej has had a lengthy spell in hospital in Bangkok and has not been seen in public for months.

The king is widely revered and seen as an arbiter in the country's divided political arena.

Thailand is preparing to celebrate 70 years of his reign on Wednesday.

The monarch was treated for narrowing of the arteries with "satisfactory results", the palace said in a statement.

Doctors performed a procedure known as balloon surgery to widen the arteries on Tuesday after tests had shown insufficient blood in the heart muscles, the statement said.

In the past month, the king has also been treated for a build up of fluid surrounding the brain and a swollen lung.

An X-ray on Saturday showed less fluid around the brain, the statement said.

The monarch's health is closely watched in Thailand as he is seen as a unifying symbol and pillar of stability in a society that has suffered increased political divisions and violence.

Thoughts?

[-:Undertaker:-]

He's done it, 70 years on the throne of Thailand today (it was the 9th not 10th of June 1946). Remarkable!

Putting that into context: King George VI was monarch of the British Empire, Truman was US President and Joseph Stalin was USSR General Secretary.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-36486536

Thailand has been marking 70 years since King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world's longest-reigning living monarch, ascended to the throne.

The celebrations began with a religious ceremony in Bangkok, led by 770 Buddhist monks, an auspicious number.

The 88-year-old king is revered by Thais, for whom he has been a figure of stability through the country's decades of political upheaval.

But he is in poor health and has not been seen in public for months.