HM joins birthday celebrations
**Crown Prince takes on most official duties **
Published: 1/12/2009 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: News
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.
*Reflections of glory *
A lake reflects the glittering Royal Pavilion (Hor Kham Luang) under a sky illuminated by floating lanterns at Chalerm Phrakiat Park in Chiang Mai’sMuang district where the Royal Flora Ratchaphreuk 2009 exhibition kicked off yesterday. The event, held to celebrate His Majesty the King’s birthday this Saturday, will last until Dec 10. — JETJARAS NARANONG
*Bron: Bangkok Post / www.bangkokpost.com *