The King of Thailand in World Focus: Articles and images from the international press 1946­2006 is a comprehensive account of the world¹s longest reigning living monarch viewed through the eyes of foreign media ‹ newspapers, magazines, wire services and photographers. This new, updated edition, published in conjunction with the King¹s 80th birthday, documents in some detail the intriguing story of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, from his birth and relatively carefree childhood spent abroad, to tragedy and sudden responsibility, through his formative years amidst domestic and regional turbulence, into his maturity as a champion of the have-nots and a king much admired and loved by his people. This is also a glimpse into the role of the king during critical moments in the country¹s political history. He remains perhaps one of the last monarchs in the world to wield real political influence, and remarkably, he does so not through the force of law, but through the tremendous trust and affection of his people. Content 1. Youth (1927-1950) 2. Coronation (1950) 3. Formative Decades (1951-1974) 4. The Royals Abroad 5. Years of Turbulence 6. Working Royals 7. Renaissance Man 8. Milestones 9. Royal Asides Appendices