King's birthday speech postponed

[Mentors]

The traditional birthday-eve address by His Majesty the King, scheduled for Dec 4, has been postponed indefinitely, but he will make a public appearance at the palace on his birthday, the Royal Palace announced on Monday.

 

His Majesty, who turns 82 on Dec 5, has been in Siriraj Hospital since Sept 19 with symptoms of pneumonia. Concerns about his health caused the Thai stock market to plunge in October.

 

His Majesty's birthday address is normally given to an audience of dignitaries, including cabinet ministers and foreign diplomats, and broadcast on national television.

 

The office of His Majesty's Principal Private Secretary also announced today the postponement of the annual parade of soldiers, scheduled for Dec 2, to celebrate His Majesty's birthday.

It did not specify why or announce any alternative dates.

 

The statement said that His Majesty will preside over a morning ceremony at the Grand Palace on his birthday. The ceremony would be attended by members of the royal family, government officials and members of parliament.

 

His Majesty has appointed Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn to meet with diplomats on Dec 8 as part of the birthday celebrations, it said.

 

Since being admitted to Siriraj Hospital His Majesty appeared in public twice. His second appearance was on Nov 2, when he joined in the Loy Krathong festival at Siriraj Hospital with members of the royal family including Her Majesty the Queen.

The King, who appeared in a wheel chair, launched a krathong on the Chao Phraya river.

 

His Majesty also missed his speech last year through illness.

The King's birthday is marked by a public holiday and celebrated by Thais across the kingdom with fireworks and Buddhist rituals.

 

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/161528/king-birthday-speech-postponed

[Mentors]

HM joins birthday celebrations

 

Crown Prince takes on most official duties

 

His Majesty the King will preside over the royal ceremony in the Grand Palace on Saturday to mark his 82nd birthday, the Office of His Majesty's Principal Private Secretary says.

 

The ceremony is the only event the King will attend as part of the celebrations marking his birthday, the office said in a statement yesterday.

His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn will represent the King in undertaking other activities.

 

The office said His Majesty would appear on Saturday before a grand audience of members of the royal family, cabinet ministers, MPs, senators and government officials who will gather to wish him well on his birthday in the Grand Palace's Amarin Winitchai Throne Hall.

 

His Majesty has been in Siriraj Hospital for treatment for inflammation of his lungs since Sept 19.

The office said the annual Trooping the Colour parade and the taking of the oath of allegiance to mark the King's birthday by battalions of royal guards at the Royal Plaza planned for tomorrow would also be postponed.

The traditional annual birthday address usually given by His Majesty to an audience of well-wishers at Dusitdalai Pavilion inside Chitralada Palace on the eve of his birthday on Friday would also be postponed this year.

 

The birthday address is looked forward to by Thai people across the country every year.

Last year, the King was also unable to give his speech on the eve of his birthday because of minor ailments.

 

However, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said all government-sponsored activities to celebrate the King's birthday would continue as scheduled.

 

Wasin Mongkholmalee, a student, said the postponement of the parade and the birthday speech would allow His Majesty time to rest and recover.

"His Majesty the King's health is a greater concern for Thais than anything else," he said

Ratinan Lao-arakpibul, a businessman, agreed that it was better for the King to rest because he was just getting over his illness.

His Majesty has worked hard for the Thai people for a long time and should take a well-deserved rest.

Jirat Prasertsup, a private company employee, said the King's birthday celebrations were always a happy time for Thais.

 

"Usually, His Majesty will talk about the overall situation of the country during his birthday address," he said. "But this year, there may be something the King does not want to talk about."

Shutimaporn Wonwises, a government official, said she wanted all activities to mark the King's birthday to run as planned.

"But I am delighted to learn that the monarch will still appear in public at the Amarin Winitchai Throne Hall on Dec 5," she said.

 

Their Majesties the King and Queen usually preside over the annual parade and the ceremony to take the oath of allegiance by battalions of royal guards at the Royal Plaza on Dec 2.

 

The Trooping the Colour parade was first held on Nov 11, 1953, to mark the anniversary of the foundation of the 1st Infantry Regiment (King's Guards). His Majesty presided over the ceremony.

The event did not take place for a number of years until after Their Majesties the King and Queen returned from several trips to the US and Europe in January 1961.

The King composed the Royal Guards March for use in the parade.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/28377/hm-joins-birthday-celebrations