The Royal Family of Thailand Part 1
Written by LEO AYLEN
Narrated by Sir John Gielgud
'The monarchy is the soul of the Thai nation ... the king the father of a very big family of 45 million people. He is the source of Thai culture. Good manners, way of living, way of thinking, even the Buddhist religion ... all seem to emanate from the king and the monarchy.'
(KUKRIT PRAMOJ,
Prime Minister, 1976)
Thailand is one of the last places where kingship can still be seen in action. One of the last places where one can still see something of the ' mystic East'. Over the last 30 years the other kings of South East Asia have gone and now King Bhumibol Adulyadej is the only monarch left. With his wife, Queen Sirikit, he reigns over a country which is both exotic and of unique political interest. Thailand 'land of the free' was never a colony, never part of a western empire. Ruled over by a brilliant line of kings, it adapted itself gently to the 20th century, whilst still retaining its ritual, its smiling nature and colourful traditions. Now all this is threatened. The huge North
I Vietnamese army is on the border.
There is Communist subversion inside the country and refugees in their hundreds of thousands pouring in. Will Thailand survive? Or will it be destroyed as Cambodia has been destroyed?
In part 1 of this exclusive two-part programme we meet the ninth sovereign of the Chakri Dynasty and his family, and with them share some of the traditions and problems of their fascinating country.
Film editors PETER BATTY , PETER PIERCE
Produced and directed by BRIDGET WINTER Part 2 on Monday at 10.0 pm