I will start off this year with a sweet story. A few days ago, my wife showed me a picture and told me the story behind the shot. The year is 1955 in Thailand, and a 102-year-old woman has heard that the King would visit her village. Her family brought her to the main road with three pink lotus flowers in her hand. She waited patiently in the front row, from morning to afternoon, hoping to catch a glimpse of the King and his Queen.

The lotus flowers withered in the blazing sun, and when the King finally walked past, the old woman raised her flowers above her head to show her respect. The King bent down to the old lady, smiled, and gently stroked her hand.

The hugely popular King dies at 88 years old in Siriraj Hospital on 13 October 2016. He was, at the time of his death, the world’s longest-serving current head of state, serving for 70 years.

Photo: Mr. Anat Bunnag, Chief Royal Photographer