His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great ascended to His throne on June 9, 1946. The meaning of His name is "Strength of the Land, incomparable Power". Since that date he has reigned over the Kingdom of Thailand as a constitutional monarch. At the Coronation Ceremony on May 5, 1950, His Majesty the King pronounced the traditional Oath of Accession which stated: -"We will reign with righteousness for the benefit and happiness of the Siamese people". His Majesty’s actions since then have thoroughly reflected those words and have always been directed towards increasing the welfare and prosperity of the Thai nation.

As his reign has advanced, the growing reverence of the Thai people for their sovereign has become ever more apparent. On May 5, 1987, to mark his 60th birthday, King Bhumibol Adulyadej was proclaimed "the Great" by his subjects.