King Bhumibol is deeply revered in Thailand where he is accorded semi-divine status.

They are immediately elevated to an elite and semi-divine status, their dying as important as, or more important than, their talent.

After seven decades on the throne, King Bhumibol is seen by many Thais as a pillar of stability, and accorded semi-divine status.

It was originally a royal guard, but it developed into a military collective of 6,000 soldiers with a semi-divine status.