![Bhumibol and Sirikit strolling through Lausanne with their children in 1960.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/titel-thaikonig-300x225.jpg)
The ‘Vaudois’ King of Thailand
Bhumibol, the King of Thailand, lived in the canton of Vaud for 17 years. In his adopted home he experienced two strokes of fate which strongly impacted on his subsequent reign as a long-lived head of state.
![Bhumibol and his fiancée Sirikit in Pully in 1949.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/paar-275x300.jpg)
Abrupt end to the happy years in Pully
![Family photo with Bhumibol in the middle, 1929.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/familie-300x225.jpg)
![Bhumibol on his bicycle in front of Villa Vadhana in Pully, where the family lived, early 1940s.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/bhumibol-velo-300x228.jpg)
![Portrait of King Ananda in Pully, his adopted home. He had been crowned King of Thailand in 1935, but spent most of his time in Switzerland.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/Anandan-196x300.jpg)
![The brothers Ananda and Bhumibol in 1946, shortly before Ananda’s mysterious death.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/02-ananda-mahidol-bhumibol-1946-e1619609399884-300x230.jpg)
Staunch believer in Switzerland’s education system
Wedding and coronation of the King of Thailand, 1950. YouTube
Longest state visit of all time
![The pavilion of the King of Thailand in Denantou Park in Lausanne.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/pavillon-243x300.jpg)