As the birthday of HM King Maha Vajiralongkorn comes closer, several Thais are recalling with joy the moments when they had a chance to get close to the royal.

Dr Theppanom Muangman, a former dean of Mahidol University’s Faculty of Public Health, has a picture of him with the current monarch when he was the crown prince dating back to 1985.“The picture was taken while he represented the King [Rama IX] to inaugurate the Asean Training Centre for Primary Health Care Development at the university’s Salaya Campus in Nakhon Pathom province,” Theppanom said yesterday.

He added that he was proud and honoured to have served two kings – the current monarch and his late father – for four decades now.  He said he was very impressed with the current monarch’s dedication to his people.

Theppanom is one of the people in the 10 pictures chosen by the Culture Ministry for celebration of the King’s birthday this year. The monarch turns 65 tomorrow.All 10 pictures feature the King carrying out his royal duties in various provinces of Thailand. One of the pictures shows the monarch meeting locals in the southernmost province of Narathiwat alongside his mother.  “These pictures show the happy moments in the lives of so many people,” Culture Minister Veera Rojpojanarat said.

Source:
courtesy of BANGKOK POST

by The Nation

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