Personal Flags of H.M. King Bhumipol Adulyadej (Rama IX) (Thailand)

Last modified: 2008-08-09 by eugene ipavec
Keywords: rama ix (king) | bhumipol adulyadej (king) | unidentified flag | crown: royal (thai) | crown (red) | sunburst (red) | text: thai (red) | canopy (white) | scroll (blue) | text: thai (white) |
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image by Santiago Dotor, based on a photograph by Ya'ara Gutterman

• Description
• King Rama IX Golden Jubilee Flag
• Unidentified Flag of King Rama IX, c.1980
• Sixth-Cycle Anniversary Flag of King Rama IX, 1999
• 60th Anniversary of King Rama IX's Accession to the Throne Flag
• 80th Birthday Anniversary Flag of King Rama IX, 2007

See also:

• Royal Standard (Thailand)
• Personal Flags of the Royal Family (Thailand)
• Royal Flags (Thailand)
• Thailand

The King's flag I recently saw in Thailand was quite different from the royal standard in FOTW (A Garuda on yellow background). The King's flag is his crown over his Thai character initial in red below on a field of dark yellow. The shade of yellow is the same as of the robes of Thai [Buddhist] monks, or of the flag of Sri Lanka.

Nozomi Kariyasu, 10 Aug 2001

I recently brought back this flag from Thailand. It is a simplified royal flag, reminding me a bit of the unidentified flag below.

Ya'ara Gutterman, 21 Sep 2001

The personal standard of H.M. King Bhumipol Adulyadej (Rama IX) is a dark yellow flag with his emblem.

Nozomi Kariyasu, 20 Sep 2002

You can find the information about the flag at this website.

Patipark Kueanjinda, 13 Apr 2005

image by Eugene Ipavec, based on a graphic from the Rama IX Art Museum Foundation

From the Singha Beer source:

The Flag commemorating His Majesty's Golden Jubilee Year

The flag contains the Royal Insignia of King Rama IX, together with the coat of arms of the Chakkri Dynasty, above which hovers a crown symbolizing the Chakkri Monarchy. In addition, there is a double-tiered royal chalice-carried by two white elephant covered by a white canopy.

The flag itself honours both his Majesty the King and the Cakkri [sic] Dynasty as a whole; not only does it demonstrate the pride which the Thai people take in having such a talented monarch-one who has ruled the country for over 50 years; it also celebrates the nation itself, its long and distinguished history and its unique art and culture, as well as the national character in general.

Santiago Dotor, 26 Oct 1999

(click on image to see full size detail)
image from ebay.com [broken link]

I came across a flag advertised in ebay.com [broken link] as the King of Thailand's flag:

Rare the First King IX Flag Thailand. This is about 20 years olds for This flag. It is First version of King IX flag. This flag begin to use when King IX be a great king of Thailand. This Flag use in front of The King IX car. It is 5.50" x 9.0" [14 cm x 23 cm]. It is in good condition come with pastic [sic] cover.

Edward Mooney, 21 Feb 2000

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image by Santiago Dotor, based on a photograph by Ya'ara Gutterman

I recently brought back this flag from Thailand. It was identified as a royal flag.

Ya'ara Gutterman, 21 Sep 2001

This is yet one more of King Bhumipol Adulyadej a.k.a. Rama IX's personal flags, since it bears his cypher. What for and when is each flag used still remains obscure. Nozomi mentioned that some of this flags are used to salute the king (at parades etc.) but also by the king himself. And of course there is also the royal standard.

Santiago Dotor, 28 May 2003

The Royal Crest Commemorating the Sixth-Cycle (72 nd) Birthday Anniversary of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej on 5 Dec 1999

His Majesty the King's initials the Thai letters "Phor Por Ror" placed at the centre of the crest, under the Royal Crown and above the Royal Throne of the Eight Compass Points, signify that His Majesty is the focus of the entire nation, binding the people's hearts and loyalty. The yellow colour of the letters is the colour of His Majesty's day of birth, and the blue colour of the background that of the monarchy.

The surrounding discus (Chakra) with the Thai numeral 9 means that King Bhumibol Adulyadej is the ninth monarch of the Chakri Dynasty. The crest is flanked by two seven-tiered umbrellas and topped by a nine-tiered umbrella, both types symbols of kingship.

The four point border represents the four regions of the country, in which the people live in peace and tranquility under the King's supreme protection, as expressed by the green colour, which is a symbol of peace and abundance. Each of the four points of the border has a lotus, an offering to His Majesty on the occasion of his Sixth-Cycle Birthday Anniversary.

The golden rays around the crest signify His Majesty's grace and benevolence, which pervade the Kingdom and beyond and bring pride and joy to the people in the entire land.

Beneath the crest a blue silk banner bears the inscription of the Royal Occasion of His Majesty's Sixth-Cycle Birthday on 5 December 1999.

Eugene Ipavec, 21 Mar 2007

Among the photos posted today in the Doha Asian Games website was one in which Thai spectators cheered on their badminton team. There was a Royal Thai flag being waved; it is on FOTW as an "Unidentified Flag of King Rama IX, 2001" [Ed.: since identified]. Could it be a royal flag approved for general public use, denoting loyalty to the King and/or patriotism?

Jay Allen Villapando, 02 Dec 2006

Indeed these are flags denoting loyalty to the King, and not a "Royal Standard" in the normal sense.

Miles Li, 04 Dec 2006

This special emblem for the 60th anniversary of King Bhumibol Adulyadej's accession to the throne was designed by Somchai Supalakumpaiporn, an artist in Thailand's Fine Arts Department, and chosen by the king from 12 designs that were submitted.

There are several symbols in the emblem. The centerpiece is an abbreviation of the king's name in golden yellow, the color of Monday, his day of birth. The abbreviation is set on a blue background, which is the color of the monarchy. It is encircled with diamonds, which symbolize wise men, important authors, craftsmen, elephants, graceful women, soldiers and courtiers who serve the monarch.

The Royal Cipher is depicted on a throne and surmounted by the royal crown. On the sides are the king's sword and staff, in front of the fan and yak's tail whisk. Under the throne is a pair of slippers. These five objects are used in coronation ceremonies, are are the same as those used in the king's coronation in 1946.

The bottom of the emblem features a pink ribbon trimmed with a gold inscription, "The Sixieth Anniversary Celebration of His Majesty the King's Accession to the Throne BE 2549." The two ends of the ribbon are held by the monkey god Hanuman, Phra Ram's vehicle in the Ramayana, and a garuda, the Hindu god Vishnu's vehicle. The green and gold colors in the background represent the fertility of the land.

This image was submitted to the press for use in stories about the anniversary celebration, and will be used to illustrate Wikipedia articles about the monarch and the celebration.

Source: Keenapan, Nattha (June 9, 2006). "A Symbol Of Greatness," International Herald Tribune/ThaiDay (print edition).

Visible in a Yahoo photo of flags being waved at the end of a march to encourage people to vote in a constitutional referendum in front of the Democracy monument in Bangkok, 13 August 2007. The emblem is the one shown and described here.

Eugene Ipavec, 09 Sep 2007