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 REUTERS/Stringer King Bhumibol Adulyadej is back at the hospital after briefly returning to his palace over the weekend. The world’s longest reigning monarch left Siriraj Hospital late Saturday night to go to Chitralada Palace for a formal function.
The 82 year-old King, who is seen by many people in Thailand as a demi-god, has been hospitalized since September 19th for a lung infection and a fever.
On Saturday, Bhumibol was televised paying homage to a Buddha statue before being driven in a motorcade to the palace.
There, he spent an hour at Chitralada for a function that included members of the royal family, cabinet, members of parliament and other leading figures in Thai society. He returned to the hospital at 1am local time.
There were no new updates on the King’s health.
Thailand was in a festive mood on Saturday as it celebrated its beloved King’s 82nd birthday. Thousands donned pink outfits and waved flags in honor of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, but were mindful of his fragile health.
 REUTERS/Royal Household/Handout The world’s longest reigning monarch has been hospitalized since September 19th for inflammation of the lungs. Doctors say the illness is not serious, but the report was enough to make Thailand nervous. King Bhumibol is seen as a great unifier in a politically divided nation.
The King made his first public appearance in over a month at the Grand Palace, where he gave a nationally televised speech to the country. Last year, he was unable to do this due to another illness.
The King told his people that his happiness came from prosperity, security and calm in Thailand. He urged Thais to do socially beneficial works.
 REUTERS/Sukree Sukplang He then met with various members of the royal family, including his son and heir, Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn. Afterward, Bhumibol returned to Siriraj Hospital, looking very much tired.
Because of the King’s fragile health, Thailand is often worried. When he dies, many expect the monarchy to be thrown into upheaval. This is because the Crown Prince is viewed as not being politically savvy as his father.
Thailand’s revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej made another public appearance today as he observed a traditional festival at Siriraj Hospital, where he has been for over a month.
 REUTERS/Bureau of the Royal Household/Handout Since his admittance to the hospital on September 19th, the people of Thailand have nervously followed news of King Bhumibol’s health. This latest appearance relieved Thais as it shows that their King is still in good health.
As national television showed, King Bhumibol lit a krathong for the Loy Krathong festival. An aide placed the krathong in the river as Queen Sirikit, Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn and other members of the royal family watched on. Loy Krathong is when Thais place lotus shaped trays into the Chao Phraya River in hopes of their bad luck drifting away, and they’ll receive good luck instead.
Outside of the hospital, thousands of well-wishers looked on as they held photographs of their beloved monarch.
Since news of the King’s health is a sensitive topic, any false information could lead to an arrest. It was revealed today that two people were charged with spreading rumors about Bhumibol’s health, which sent stocks plunging about two weeks ago.
Friday afternoon was the first time Thailand’s beloved King Bhumibol Adulyadej appeared in public since being admitted to Siriraj Hospital on September 19th. He was shown on national television being pushed around on a wheelchair by doctors on hospital grounds.
 Reuters/Stringer This appearance was meant to ease Thailand’s worries over the health of the 81 year-old King. The country has been so concerned, stocks tumbled last week.
But doctors insist King Bhumibol’s health is getting better, and there will be no more daily updates on his condition, unless things turn for the worst.
The King was hospitalized last month for fever, loss of appetite and lung infection.
But Friday, he was shown being in good health. Siriraj Hospital said the King visited its photo exhibition of his late mother and then checked out Siriraj’s bookstore.
Thais see their King as a force of stability in their politically divided kingdom. Concern over what will happen when Bhumibol passes away is high, since the Crown Prince does not have the talent to walk the fine line between the political parties as his father does.
 Princess Chulabhorn, the youngest daughter of Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej, spoke on national television about the health of her father, who has been hospitalized since September 19th.
“Therapy is being performed so the king can stand and walk about normally. It will take some more time. That’s the reason why His Majesty has not been discharged from hospital, but doctors said there is no danger,” she said late Friday.
The Princess admitted that the revered monarch originally had a fever, but he is better now and “speaks and takes his meals almost as normal” instead of being fed intravaneously.
Concern over the health of their beloved King has gripped Thais across the country. This week, Thai stocks tumbled for the first time in two months, though they rebounded on Friday.
Princess Chulabhorn was the first member of the royal family to make comments about Bhumibol’s condition. She was in Berlin when she said those words, as she picked up an award for her work in chemistry.
15 days since he entered a Bangkok hospital for fatigue, fever and poor appetite, Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej remains under close watch at the Siriraj Hospital as his health fluctuates.
 Reuters FILE On Tuesday, it was reported by the Royal Household Bureau – which has been giving daily updates to Thais – that the 81 year-old King was suffering from inflammation of the lungs and his fever had returned. It had gone down a few days earlier.
Last night, the Bureau released another statement, saying the monarch’s health was now in good condition.
“He can take more food and get good sleep,” the Bureau said.
Since King Bhumibol entered Siriraj, thousands of Thais have been either keeping vigil or holding prayer services for their beloved King.
 AP FILE The King of Thailand is currently being hospitalized in Bangkok today. The 81 year-old King Bhumibol Adulyadej was admitted on Saturday night to Siriraj Hospital, after suffering from fever, fatigue and loss of appetite.
It is being reported that the monarch – the world’s longest serving – is being treated with antibiotics and glucose drip. Doctors are trying to diagnose his illness.
Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva told the country King Bhumibol’s condition is not of concern.
In the past, the King has suffered a minor stroke, bronchitis and stomach inflammation.
Tables were set up at the hospital for citizens to wish their beloved King well.
King Bhumibol is highly revered in Thailand, and there are concerns that when he passes, the monarchy would be in trouble. This is because the King’s son, Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn, is not as politically savvy as his father.
On Friday, a Thai court sentenced an activist to 18 years behind bars for insulting Thailand’s revered royal family. Daranee Charnchoengsilpakul, a former journalist, was tried for three counts of violated lese majeste laws. Each count equaled a six year sentence.
 AP FILE Daranee made the insults during political rallies for ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra last year. She was arrested in July 2008 for her speeches, which the Thai court described as hurting the “reputation and honor” of King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit.
“It is what I expected to happen,” Ms. Daranee told reporters after getting her sentence. “I will appeal the verdict up to the Supreme Court to find out if there is any justice in this country. This country is closing its eyes and ears.”
Daranee’s trial, which began in June, was done behind closed doors. Critics say that led to an unfair trial.
Violating the lese-majeste laws in Thailand is a serious crime. Many Thais see King 81 year-old King Bhumibol as a near deity and as being above politics.
While the laws have been around for a long time, only recently has it been heavily enforced. Some believe it may have to do with the King’s fragile health and the monarchy’s uncertain future.
Two years ago, however, King Bhumibol openly criticized the lese-majeste laws, saying he should not be above criticism.
300,000 people took the streets of Bangkok to celebrate Coronations Day – the 59th anniversary of the crowning of King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
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It was chance not only to honor their King, but to call for peace for a nation in turmoil.
Many Thais wore white or other neutral colors as part of the campaign “stop hurting Thailand.”
Those who spoke to the press said they were tired of the politics that divided their country. Others said they did not understand why the politicians were so bipartisan when they are so loyal to the King.
As an example of this, at 7:30pm on live television, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva lead the government in swearing an oath to Bhumibol.
“To mark the 60th anniversary of His Majesty the King’s coronation [next year] and as a gesture of gratitude towards the monarch and all members of the royal family, I and all Thais will be steadfast in expressing our gratitude to the motherland.” the prime minister said.
“We will act in keeping with righteousness and religious morals and will uphold the institution of the monarchy and be always thankful to the institution’s contributions to bring prosperity to the nation.
“We will conduct ourselves with diligence and honesty to preserve the country under the constitutional monarchy,” he said.
Before all this, in the morning, King Bhumibol, Queen Sirikit and the rest of the royal family, went to Grand Palace’s Amarin Winitchai Throne Hall to mark Coronation Day.
Once there, the King allowed the Royal Pantheon to be opened to opened to the public. Normally, the Pantheon is exclusive to the royal family.
Celebrations went on throughout the day for Thais. There was traditional dancing and pop singers performing starting at 5pm until the partying ended at midnight.
A lady-in-waiting to Thailand’s Queen Sirikit denies having any knowledge of an assassination attempt on a protest leader. 
Thanpuying Viriya Chavakul told INN television that she knew nothing of the plot that took place on April 17 against Sondhi Limthongkul.
‘The thought of having Mr Sondhi killed never crossed my mind,’ said Viriya, who admitted to having ties to the military top brass through her charity work.
“I’m glad she denied it,” Sondhi said. He added that he expected the police to reveal the chief suspects in the assassination bid by the end of the month.
Sondhi originally planned to hold a “tell-all” press conference on Friday about the attempt he survived with minor injuries, but then decided against it.
In previous interviews, Sondhi said a “certain lady close to the palace was one party among many who ‘chipped in’ to have him killed,” the Bangkok Post reported.
Sondhi is the leader of the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD, a coalition of groups who are against coup-ousted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra’s return to power.
The group held protests in the streets for six months last year, and at one point those protests closed off two airports in Thailand.
In the past, Sondhi gave speeches hinting that he had the approval of Queen Sirikit, something that might have angered the Thai military. This might have led to his assassination attempt.
“The attempt on my life happened because they see me as the biggest obstacle to their scheme,” Sondhi told The Nation.
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