9 June 1946

Nation mourns death of the King

His Majesty King Ananda Mahidol was found dead in his bed from a single bullet wound to the head, just after 9am. His younger brother, 18-year-old Prince Bhumibol Adulyadej, was confirmed as successor by the legislature that evening. The King, 20, had been experiencing stomach pains. He arose at 6am in Boromphiman Palace in the Grand Palace complex and took some medicine. It was not known what transpired between then and when his body, lying next to a Colt .45 pistol, was discovered by his personal attendant at about 9am. The King’s mother, the Princess Mother, was prostrate with grief.

King Ananda was named monarch in 1935 at the age of 10, after his uncle King Prajadhipok abdicated. He had spent almost his entire reign attending school in Switzerland. King Ananda and his younger brother had arrived in the country along with their mother on December 5, 1945. The King had been due to depart for the United States later in June.

Parliament convened on the evening of the tragedy and unanimously confirmed Prince Bhumibol Adulyadej as the ninth king of the Chakri dynasty. A Council of Regency was set up to guide him.

An initial report on the death by the appointed Commission of Inquiry was read over Bangkok Radio on November 1. It suggested the King had either committed suicide or been assassinated. The commission, including judges and high-ranking royals, dismissed the theory that King Ananda’s death was accidental. The inconclusive nature of the report failed to lift a cloud of suspicion surrounding the death.

9 June 1946

Nation mourns death of the King

His Majesty King Ananda Mahidol was found dead in his bed from a single bullet wound to the head, just after 9am. His younger brother, 18-year-old Prince Bhumibol Adulyadej, was confirmed as successor by the legislature that evening. The King, 20, had been experiencing stomach pains. He arose at 6am in Boromphiman Palace in the Grand Palace complex and took some medicine. It was not known what transpired between then and when his body, lying next to a Colt .45 pistol, was discovered by his personal attendant at about 9am. The King’s mother, the Princess Mother, was prostrate with grief.

King Ananda was named monarch in 1935 at the age of 10, after his uncle King Prajadhipok abdicated. He had spent almost his entire reign attending school in Switzerland. King Ananda and his younger brother had arrived in the country along with their mother on December 5, 1945. The King had been due to depart for the United States later in June.

Parliament convened on the evening of the tragedy and unanimously confirmed Prince Bhumibol Adulyadej as the ninth king of the Chakri dynasty. A Council of Regency was set up to guide him.

An initial report on the death by the appointed Commission of Inquiry was read over Bangkok Radio on November 1. It suggested the King had either committed suicide or been assassinated. The commission, including judges and high-ranking royals, dismissed the theory that King Ananda’s death was accidental. The inconclusive nature of the report failed to lift a cloud of suspicion surrounding the death.