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| Thai king misses birthday speech | |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej has not been able to give his traditional speech to the nation on the eve of his 81st birthday. | Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej has not been able to give his traditional speech to the nation on the eve of his 81st birthday. |
| Crown Prince Varjiralongkorn went on the radio instead to say his father was a "little sick". | Crown Prince Varjiralongkorn went on the radio instead to say his father was a "little sick". |
| Thais had been looking forward to hearing from their much-loved monarch, who has long been looked to for guidance in times of turmoil. | Thais had been looking forward to hearing from their much-loved monarch, who has long been looked to for guidance in times of turmoil. |
| Thailand is in the middle of a long-running political stand-off. | |
| The international airport was taken over by anti-government protesters for most of the past week, and the situation is only now getting back to normal. | The international airport was taken over by anti-government protesters for most of the past week, and the situation is only now getting back to normal. |
| But correspondents say there is still a huge backlog of tourists waiting to leave Thailand. | |
| 'Not serious' | |
| Prince Vajiralongkorn informed Thais that the king was unable to deliver the speech "because he was a little sick". | |
| Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, the king's daughter, added that his condition was "not serious", saying he had "a blockage in his throat and a poor appetite". | |
| The king's speech is usually given in front of senior government officials and other specially invited guests on the evening before his birthday. | |
| It is also broadcast live on national radio to his many millions of adoring subjects. | |
| This is the first time in his 62 year reign that the king - the longest-serving monarch in the world - has failed to give the address. | |
| "The king has said to thank [you] for the wishes given out of loyalty," said Prince Vajiralongkorn. |