Six months later, Ananda was shot dead. The new regent, Prince Rangsit of Chainat (yet another son of King Chulalongkorn), who had been appointed only the previous day, had been imprisoned by Pibulsongkram during the war, adding further speculation that the death was no accident. Bhumibol, who was only 18, accepted his new positionas king, but returned to Switzerland two months later, ostensibly to continue his studies, but also to be out of harm’s way while various generals jostled for power