bhumibol

So far, however, King Bhumibol seems to have made up his mind that Prince Vajiralongkorn will succeed him.

There was talk in Bangkok of the princess's funeral being a "dress rehearsal" for the end of Bhumibol's reign, 62 years long so far.

It is still in flux, and is likely to remain so as long as the post-Bhumibol future is so uncertain.

Some red shirts this week lamented that, if King Bhumibol is against the leader they keep voting for, he must be against them too.

Buddhist monks carry a photograph of the King of Thailand, Adulyadej Bhumibol, in celebration of his birthday.

Under King Bhumibol its stock has fallen already from its zenith in May 1992, when he could order a military dictator to cease and desist.

Rumours of King Bhumibol's death last October sparked a two-day equities sell-off and a furious government witch-hunt for rumour-spreaders.

King Bhumibol Adulyadej, now in his fumbling twilight, admires what he calls Thailand's "sufficiency economy" .

The most senior of these is Prem Tinsulanonda, chief adviser to King Bhumibol and a former army commander and prime minister in the 1980s.

The death of King Bhumibol would also signal a generational shift in Thailand: younger voices could start to be heard.

But its legitimacy depended on the charisma of King Bhumibol and the stealth of his courtiers.

Bhumibol was proclaimed king the same day, and promptly returned to Switzerland to complete his studies.

Some might argue that King Bhumibol shares the blame for the failure of democratic institutions to take root in Thailand.

His nomination has yet to be approved by Thai King, Bhumibol Adulyadej.

Red Shirt leaders earlier urged Thailand's revered but ailing monarch King Bhumibol Adulyadej to intervene in the crisis.

To this end, King Bhumibol recently asked three trusted emissaries to present ideas for reforming the institution, according to Mr Sulak.

Then, tensions were calmed when the king, Bhumibol Adulyadej, berated both the protest leader and the then military dictator on television.

But even if Bhumibol did try to mediate this time, there is no simple fix.

Thailand's economic growth has trickled down to the masses, all under the benevolent gaze of Bhumibol.

On his shirt Mr Sombat bears the logo of King Bhumibol's 80th birthday celebrations, held earlier in December.

If King Bhumibol Adulyadej proclaims her, she will be the 28th prime minister in Thai history.

They present themselves as rural and poor, as opposed to the urban elites who are closer to the revered King Bhumibol and his family.

King Bhumibol famously said in 2005 that he was not above criticism.

King Bhumibol himself said in 2005 that he was not above criticism.

This happened in Thailand in 1932, but was later reversed under King Bhumibol.

But there is another figure in the political landscape to consider: King Bhumibol Adulyadej, at 82 the world's longest-reigning monarch.

In Thailand, the people greatly love and admire King Bhumibol (Rama IX), who has led them for over 60 years.

King Bhumibol, 82, has been hospitalised for several months.

Bhumibol, who is 82 and confined to hospital, has stayed out of the current mess.

That put him at loggerheads with Prem Tinsulanonda, a retired general and former prime minister, who is the chief adviser to King Bhumibol.

Thailand Birthday of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej