King Chulalongkorn established the Most Illustrious Order of the Royal House of Chakri in 1882 to commemorate the centennial of the kingdom’s founding in Bangkok. This prestigious distinction is awarded to Thai and foreign royals, as well as to heads of state. President Dwight D. Eisenhower is the only U.S. leader to receive this honorable distinction and wore it throughout his White House state dinner with Their Majesties King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit.