THAILAND: King Bhumibol Adulyadej makes a rare trip out of hospital to the Grand Palace for Coronation Day ceremonies

Record ID: 863934

  • Title: THAILAND: King Bhumibol Adulyadej makes a rare trip out of hospital to the Grand Palace for Coronation Day ceremonies
  • Date: 6th May 2010
  • Summary: BANGKOK, THAILAND (MAY 5, 2010) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF SIRIRAJ HOSPITAL POLICE STANDING GUARD SURROUNDED BY PEOPLE PEOPLE WAVING THAI NATIONAL FLAGS AND ROYAL FLAGS WOMAN HOLDING PICTURE OF KING BHUMIBOL ADULYADEJ PEOPLE HOLDING PICTURES OF KING BHUMIBOL ADULYADEJ VARIOUS OF KING BHUMIBOL IN WHEELCHAIR BEING PUSHED BY DOCTOR PEOPLE CHANTING: "LONG LIVE THE KING" DOCTOR PUSHING KING BHUMIBOL'S WHEELCHAIR PEOPLE CHANTING: "LONG LIVE THE KING" ROYAL FAMILY MEMBERS WALKING POLICE AND SOLDIERS STANDING GUARD (SOUNDBITE) (Thai) WELL-WISHER, PREEYA JINPAT, SAYING: "I'm here to celebrate with the King. Long live the king. I wish him a quick recovery. I have fainted three times (as it's crowded). I love the King very much. I wish him and all the royal members a long life." PEOPLE CRYING AFTER SEEING KING BHUMIBOL
  • Embargoed: 21st May 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Thailand
  • City:
  • Country: Thailand
  • Topics: Royalty
  • Reuters ID: LVAEBP9FZZ71VKKIF8NAIA9MPCH7
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: Eighty-two-year-old King Bhumibol Adulyadej made a rare trip out of Bangkok's hospital on Wednesday (May 5) for a royal ceremony at the Grand palace to celebrate Coronation Day.
    Thousands of well-wishers lined up at the Siriraj Hospital with the hope of catching a glimpse of the man who is regarded as almost divine and the nation's sole unifying figure by many in Thailand.
    Chanting "Long live the king" and waving Thai national and royal flags, they gathered to pay their respects.
    Following a recent trend, many people wore the colour pink based on the popular belief that it would help the world's longest-reigning monarch return to full health.
    The Royal Household Bureau said the king, who has been in hospital since last September, was receiving physical therapy after suffering pneumonia, fatigue and fever.
    Crowds of well-wishers cheered King Bhumibol as he left hospital in a wheelchair, accompanied by Queen Sirikit and dressed in the ceremonial white royal garb.
    "I'm here to celebrate for the King. Long live the king. I wish him a quick recovery. I have fainted three times (as it's crowded). I love the King very much. I wish him a long life and all the royal family members," one well-wisher Preeya Jinpat said, overcome with emotions.
    Thailand celebrates Coronation Day on May 5 each year to mark the day King Bhumibol was crowned King of Thailand in 1950.
    Although the king is officially above politics, he has intervened several times in periods of crisis but has so far resisted calls to mediate and help end Thailand's current political standoff.
    In the fortified red-shirt protest camp, Buddhist monks chanted on the stage and offered prayers for the King.
    Anti-government protesters said they would stay in their encampment in the Thai capital until Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva sets a date for dissolving parliament.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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