King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand.
The Diplomat. 14/10/2016
The Spanish Government sent its condolences yesterday to the Thai authorities on the death of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who died at the age of 88 years old.
The Spanish Executive points out in a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry that it “has received with deep sorrow the news of the death of His Majesty the King of Thailand Bhumibol Adulyadej” and it “sends its most heartfelt condolences to the Royal Family and to the people of Thailand”.
The statement emphasizes that “in his seventy years of reign, King Bhumibol knew who to earn the respect and love of the people of Thailand, whose wellbeing and progress were his constant concerns” and that, during that period, “relations of honest friendship and successful cooperation were developed between Spain and Thailand”.
The condition of King Bhumibol Adulyadej had worsened in the last days. According to the official statement of the Royal Household, “he has died peacefully at 15:52 hrs (10:52 hrs, local time in mainland Spain) at the Siriraj Hospital”. During the period of mourning that starts now, flags will fly at half mast for a month in all the official buildings and schools as a sign of mourning for a sovereign considered to be a unifying figure and a symbol of the national independence.