The King - and Queen - and I

When I was the Reuters correspondent in Bangkok I reported on 2 April 1955 the birth of the second daughter of King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit. When I heard that the queen had gone into labour I tuned into the palace radio station. It was playing a mixed stack of records, including the hymn Onward Christian Soldiers. The music was eventually interrupted for the announcement of the birth of their daughter, who would be named Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. There was a long period of silence on the radio, finally broken by a baby crying. To the delight of the Thai people, the king had ordered the microphone to be taken into the queen’s bedchamber. ■