Even as a young prince growing up in Switzerland, His Majesty the King was a keen craftsman. With his older brother, King Ananda Mahidol, he assembled electric engines and radios, models and gliders. He even repaired his nanny’s sewing machine and constructed a simple radio.
His Majesty King Bhumibol raised several dogs over the years, but was rarely pictured with one until 1998, when His Majesty was presented with a stray dog by the staff of the Rama IX Medical Centre. With a copper coloured coat, the dog was named “Tongdaeng”, and was in fact His Majesty’s 17th dog. She soon became His Majesty’s constant companion as well as one of the most famous dogs in the country.
A lighter side of His Majesty the King's personality is reflected in a series of anecdotes compiled in the book, Thi Sud Khong Hua Jai published by Kantana Publishing.
His Majesty the King strived to maintain his constitutional role and impartiality when it came to politics. In times of crisis, however, his voice made all the difference.