Thai king to make rare public appearance on birthday

Thailand's revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej will appear in public on Saturday at Bangkok's Grand Palace on his 82nd birthday, but his traditional birthday eve address has been postponed indefinitely, palace officials said.                                           

King Bhumibol, the world's longest-reigning monarch, has been hospitalised since Sept. 19, causing concern in financial markets because he is seen as the sole unifying figure in a politically polarised country.                                           

Uncertainty about his health sparked a steep fall in stock prices and the baht currency on October 14 and 15. Markets recovered after the palace said the king's health was improving.

An official from the Office of the Royal Household said the king would grant an audience to royal family members, cabinet ministers, top government officials and elected politicians at Arun Amarin Royal Throne Hall in the Grand Palace on Saturday. 

"Of course his majesty will personally preside over this important annual event," said an official from the royal household who declined to be identified. It would be the first public appearance by the king since November 2, and only his third since he was admitted to hospital with fever and loss of appetite, and then treated for pneumonia.

A trooping of the colour military parade in Bangkok, due on Wednesday, to celebrate the king''s birthday has also been postponed indefinitely, the office of the king's principal private secretary said in a statement.                                           

Strict lese-majeste laws in Thailand make comment on royal matters risky. But the king's health and extended hospitalisation have raised concern in largely Buddhist Thailand where many of his subjects regard him as semi-divine.                                           

Thousands of Thais have signed get-well books at Siriraj Hospital since the king was admitted. Most of the country's 67 million people were born under during his 63-year reign. Speculation had grown in recent days the king could be released from hospital this week to coincide with birthday celebrations.                                           

The king's birthday eve address is normally given to an audience of dignitaries, including cabinet ministers and foreign diplomats, and broadcast to the country.

Last year the king failed to deliver the address at a time when many Thais had been looking to him to issue a call for unity after anti-government protests by People's Alliance for Democracy activists shut down Bangkok's main airport for a week. 

Monday's palace statement said Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn would meet with diplomats on December 8 as part of the birthday celebrations.