World royalty feasts with Thai king on 60th anniversary

Royalty from across Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa joined Thailand's king at a state banquet to celebrate his 60th year on the throne as the world's longest-reigning monarch.

Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej will welcome royals from 25 nations at a sparkling new throne hall on the grounds of the Grand Palace, a glittering compound of golden temples in central Bangkok.

The 78-year-old monarch, who made his reputation by helping poor farmers rather than hosting extravagant parties, will serve his guests seafood and vegetables produced by projects he sponsors to help ease rural poverty.

The guest list includes Japan's Emperor Akihito, Britain's Prince Andrew, Spain's Queen Sofia, Jordan's King Abdullah II, Brunei's Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, and Monaco's Prince Albert II.

Royals also came from Bahrain, Belgium, Bhutan, Cambodia, Denmark, Kuwait, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Morocco, the Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Qatar, Swaziland, Sweden, Tonga and the United Arab Emirates.

Nearly a week of festivities for the jazz-playing king have highlighted his enduring popularity in a country that has undergone tremendous political and social change during his reign.

One million people flocked to Bangkok's marble palace on Friday to hear him give only the third public audience of his rule.

Millions more around the country have worn yellow shirts and wristbands for a week to honor the king with the color associated with Mondays, the weekday he was born in 1927.

At that time, Thailand was still the Kingdom of Siam and monarchs ruled with absolute power.

As Bhumibol took the throne amid the ashes of World War II, he redefined the role of the king in a nation that had become a constitutional monarchy but faltered -- sometimes violently -- as it evolved into a democracy.

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