a hugely popular tourist attraction because of its many beautiful temples, buildings and architectural splendor, certain sections of the Grand Palace are out of bounds as it is still technically a ‘working palace’ with many senior royal officers having their offices there.
As the complex stands today, the Grand Palace is divided into four areas separated by walls and gates, namely, the Outer Court, the Middle Court, the Inner Court and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha.
THE OUTER COURT
During the absolute monarchy period of Thai history, the Outer Court was the seat of royal government and was occupied largely by government agencies and officials. Even today, the area has a distinct business and administrative feel, with many buildings inside used for official meetings. Visitors may also be interested in a small museum called the Pavilion of Regalia, Royal Decorations and Coins.
THE MIDDLE COURT
The Middle Court is arguably the most important and oft-visited section of the Grand Palace. It houses all the Grand Palace’s residential buildings, many of which have been designed with an eye-watering level of beauty and detail. Here you will find the various former residences of the most influential people of the kingdom. Although it is no longer used as an official residence for the Thai monarchy, it still has its fair share of armed Royal Guards, who stand sentinel throughout the day.
The wonderfully decorated Royal Barge Procession.
The Grand Palace.
THE PHRA MAHA MONTHIAN GROUP
The Phra Maha Monthian group refers to a number of interconnecting buildings situated within the Middle Court. This walled structure was where the actual abode of the king was located. All Royal Coronations now take place here. This was also where all foreign missionaries and ambassadors were received and granted audiences with the king.
THE INNER COURT
The Inner Court, situated adjacent to the Middle Court, is closed off to the public. Whenever a king of Thailand was resident in the Grand Palace, this area would house the royal consorts and female attendants. The section was completely forbidden to outsiders and to all men.
The Royal Family
Bhumibol Adulyadej was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, in 1927 and was installed as the King of Thailand in 1950, making him the longest reigning monarch in the world. If assets managed by the Crown Property Bureau are included, he is also believed to be the world’s richest monarch, with an estimated net worth of $30 billion. Queen Sirikit has been King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s wife and royal consort since April 1950 and they have four children.
The name Bhumibol loosely translates as ‘Strength of the Land’. King Bhumibol is also widely known as the ‘Development King’ owing to his numerous charities, rural development programs and attempts at making villages sustainable and self-sufficient. In fact, many members of the Thai royal family, both past and present, are well known for their philanthropy and are associated with specific charities and causes.
The royal family of Thailand on the occasion of King Bhumibol’s 85th birthday in 2012.
Besides attending numerous annual religious and royal ceremonies, such as the Royal Barge Procession and the Changing of the Robes of the Emerald Buddha, members of the Thai royal family have many other official duties to perform, including the awarding of degree certificates during the majority of graduation ceremonies.
Most years, generally on auspicious dates, including the King’s birthday and most recently Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn’s birthday, there are also Royal Pardons, which are entirely up to the discretion of King Bhumibol. In 2015, to coincide with the Princess’s 60th birthday, for example, 38,000 prisoners were released early and 140,000 prisoners had their sentences commuted.
Every evening at 7 pm, most Thai TV channels run a nightly program featuring the latest happenings and royal news. Footage may show a member of the royal family visiting a school or perhaps inspecting the new facilities at a museum.
With the much-loved King Bhumibol now in his late eighties, and considering the hugely pivotal role that he has played in stabilizing the country and in Thailand’s political affairs, the prospect of succession to heir-apparent Prince Vajiralongkorn, who in 2014 divorced his third wife, remains a delicate and contentious subject. Although very unlikely, there are some who believe that the King’s daughter, Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, who is unmarried and without child, may even become the ruling monarch. Discussion on such matters, however, is restricted in the kingdom amid fears of contravening the lesè majesté law.
The debate is fueled further and given extra significance by a well-known old prophecy that the Chakri dynasty would last only nine generations.
What will become of Thailand once the reign of King Bhumibol comes to an end remains a sensitive issue.
ROYAL PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
Numerous royal holidays are observed and celebrated with much gusto throughout the year. For example, Commemoration Day, a nationwide public holiday, is held on May 5 to celebrate the coronation of the King in 1950.
Queen Sirikit’s birthday, which has subsequently come to be known as Mother’s Day, is celebrated on August 12. On this day, Thai people celebrate the Queen’s birthday as well as their own mother’s.
Likewise, King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s birthday is celebrated on December 5 and is known in the kingdom as Father’s Day, where Thai people not only celebrate the King’s birthday but also their own father’s.
October 23 is another public holiday with royal significance. This holiday is known as Chulalongkorn Day and commemorates the birthday of the much-loved King Chulalongkorn (Rama V).
The coronation of King Bhumibol Adulyadej in 1950.
King Bhumibol is loved and revered like a god in Thailand.
CHAPTER 2
THAI DESIGN AND CRAFTSMANSHIP
Thai style is subtle, simple, yet stunning. The secret of Thai style lies in the pursuit of an aesthetic that is in harmony with the surroundings, nature and culture. It is expressed not only in the country’s arts, crafts, silk wear and tribal textiles but also in the architecture, including the beautiful five-star resorts that dot the country, the serene temples that are the focus of towns and the traditional homes that form the center of Thai life.
STYLE STARTS AT HOME
It is not only in the intricate craftsmanship that Thai style is expressed but in the desire for calm amidst chaos. It’s visible in the harmonious lifestyle of slum-dwellers who live in noisy, close quarters; in the hustle and bustle of the markets; in the traffic on the street. Thai style, and the desire for
