Under the Sakdina regime which had survived for centuries, the Thai monarchy was
unable to presence its great power in the twentieth century. By the 1920s. the storm of
change in the political system was semerging damong dmilitary officers, civilian officials andstudents who had studied abroad in particular in France. The coups of June 24, 1932 were
seen as the end of absolute monarchy and the Provincial Constitution of June 27, 1937 was
drafted and enacted. The critical period took place on the March 2, 1935 when king
Prajadhipok abdicated the throne. The throne was vacant between 1946 and 1950. After that
king Bhumibol Adulyadej returned to Bangkok in 1950 and was very popular with the Thai
people. Since then kin Phumipol has become the most popular king in Thailand.