King Bhumibol Adulyadej was the world's longest-reigning and the country's revered monarch. Bhumibol, a constitutional monarch with no formal political role, was widely regarded as Thailand's unifying figure.
In Photos: The Reign of Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej
![King Bhumibol Adulyadej (C) sits on the Royal Barge during the Royal Barge Procession on the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, Nov. 4, 1999.](https://gdb.voanews.com/C5358343-6289-49B8-9F64-0505CAB190DB_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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King Bhumibol Adulyadej (C) sits on the Royal Barge during the Royal Barge Procession on the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, Nov. 4, 1999.
![King Bhumibol lights the flame for the 13th Asian Games, Dec. 3, 1998, during a ceremony at Chitrlada Palace, the King's residence, during a ceremony three days prior to the start of the games.](https://gdb.voanews.com/D6863791-1E81-4E65-A020-C4CA84FE593F_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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King Bhumibol lights the flame for the 13th Asian Games, Dec. 3, 1998, during a ceremony at Chitrlada Palace, the King's residence, during a ceremony three days prior to the start of the games.
![Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej receives a small rose plant from a woman as he makes a visit to one of his crop substitution projects in Northern Thailand, Feb. 16, 1981.](https://gdb.voanews.com/C623AC0C-1855-4DCC-A8DB-18A00978F2EE_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej receives a small rose plant from a woman as he makes a visit to one of his crop substitution projects in Northern Thailand, Feb. 16, 1981.
![King Bhumibol Adulydej and Queen Sirikit (left) talked to 100 demonstrators in Bangkok, Oct. 15, 1973, during demonstration which resulted in fall of Thanom Kittikachorn government.](https://gdb.voanews.com/C67B80C7-28E6-4E8E-BE66-FD3538957908_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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King Bhumibol Adulydej and Queen Sirikit (left) talked to 100 demonstrators in Bangkok, Oct. 15, 1973, during demonstration which resulted in fall of Thanom Kittikachorn government.