King Bhumibol ‘The Great’, Forty million Thais vote on new title in nationwide poll
His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej was formally conferred the title ‘The Great’ at a garden party hosted by Prime Minister Prem Tinsulanonda at Government House.
Of the 40 million people reached under a government-sponsored poll that started in 1985, more than 34 million people proposed that the King be referred to as ‘Somdej Phra Bhumibol Adulyadej Maharaj’ (King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great), while the rest preferred the title ‘Somdej Phra Pattara Maharaj’ (the Great Beloved King).
Also in commemoration of the King’s 60th birthday, the Bank of Thailand printed a series of special 60-baht bank notes, and on 18 August four new national parks were declared in Chiang Mai, Sakon Nakhon, Kanchanaburi and Phangnga.
