Revered Thai king misses birthday speech

Last Updated: Fri, 5 Dec 2008 09:57:00 +1100

Thailand is marking the 81st birthday of the country's influential King, amid growing concerns over the monarch's heatlh.

Our correspondent in Bangkok, Karen Percy, reports King Bhumipol has missed his annual address to the nation on the eve of his birthday.

Many dignitaries and guests were gathered at the Chitralada palace to hear the annual birthday speech.

It was presided over by Thailand's interim Prime Minister, Chaowarat Chandeerakul, in his first official duty.

Instead of seeing King Bhumipol, his son the Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn thanked the people for their loyalty and asked them to have the strength of mind to do their duty.

Then the Crown Princess Sirindhorn explained that the King was suffering from a throat infection and was told by his doctors to rest.

The king last appeared in public at a pre-birthday Trooping the Colour ceremony on Tuesday, hours after the court ousted prime minister, Somchai Wongsawat, but that event was also cut short.

It's the one day of the year that Thais know they will hear from their King, where he often passes on messages of peace and unity.

This year there was much anticipation about what he would say just days after the end of a crippling protest at Bangkok's airports and the dissolution of three governing political parties.

The political crisis reached previously unseen heights last week when protesters from the People's Alliance for Democracy who claim they are protecting the king - occupied Bangkok's international and domestic airports.

Flights are getting back into their normal routine, but the political crisis looks as if it will continue.

It's unclear if King Bhumipol will make his usual birthday appearance at the Grand Palace.

He turns 81 and is the world's longest-serving living monarch after ascending to the throne in 1946.

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