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| Thais mark king's 80th birthday | Thais mark king's 80th birthday |
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| Celebrations are taking place in Thailand to mark the 80th birthday of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world's longest serving monarch. | Celebrations are taking place in Thailand to mark the 80th birthday of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world's longest serving monarch. |
| Thousands of people packed the streets around Bangkok's Grand Palace to show their respect for the king, who is revered after 61 years on the throne. | Thousands of people packed the streets around Bangkok's Grand Palace to show their respect for the king, who is revered after 61 years on the throne. |
| The festivities come amid growing fears over King Bhumibol's fragile health. | The festivities come amid growing fears over King Bhumibol's fragile health. |
| Last month he spent three weeks in hospital being treated for inadequate blood flow to the brain. | Last month he spent three weeks in hospital being treated for inadequate blood flow to the brain. |
| The king's birthday is an occasion for celebration in Thailand, but also a time of acute anxiety, reports the BBC's Jonathan Head from Bangkok. | The king's birthday is an occasion for celebration in Thailand, but also a time of acute anxiety, reports the BBC's Jonathan Head from Bangkok. |
| During his many years on the throne, public adulation for King Bhumibol has risen to such an intensity that few Thais can imagine how the country will cope without him. | During his many years on the throne, public adulation for King Bhumibol has risen to such an intensity that few Thais can imagine how the country will cope without him. |
| In pictures: Thai festivities | In pictures: Thai festivities |
| Many have taken to wearing yellow or pink over the past year, colours associated with the king. | Many have taken to wearing yellow or pink over the past year, colours associated with the king. |
| A stiff, unsmiling figure in public, he has steered a legally almost powerless monarchy through a succession of unstable military and civilian governments, and acquired an unrivalled aura of virtue and integrity, our correspondent says. | A stiff, unsmiling figure in public, he has steered a legally almost powerless monarchy through a succession of unstable military and civilian governments, and acquired an unrivalled aura of virtue and integrity, our correspondent says. |
| 'Must unite' | 'Must unite' |
| Huge crowds waited on the streets of the capital to watch the king's motorcade pass by on its way to the Grand Palace. | Huge crowds waited on the streets of the capital to watch the king's motorcade pass by on its way to the Grand Palace. |
| There, wearing a gold ceremonial robe, King Bhumibol delivered a short speech that was broadcast live across the nation. | There, wearing a gold ceremonial robe, King Bhumibol delivered a short speech that was broadcast live across the nation. |
| Many Thais have been wearing the pink and yellow shirts | Many Thais have been wearing the pink and yellow shirts |
| He reiterated the need for national unity, something he emphasised in a longer televised address on Tuesday. | He reiterated the need for national unity, something he emphasised in a longer televised address on Tuesday. |
| Then he urged solidarity between the military and civilians, a veiled reference to the bitter divisions in Thailand over last year's coup which ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. | Then he urged solidarity between the military and civilians, a veiled reference to the bitter divisions in Thailand over last year's coup which ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. |
| "Whether soldiers or civilians, (we) must be united, like our legs that must be united - which means one goes forward and one pushes back before moving forward," he said. | "Whether soldiers or civilians, (we) must be united, like our legs that must be united - which means one goes forward and one pushes back before moving forward," he said. |
| "This way, we could walk without falling. Without unity, the country will face disaster." | "This way, we could walk without falling. Without unity, the country will face disaster." |
| The country is due to return to democratic rule after a general election later this month. | The country is due to return to democratic rule after a general election later this month. |
| Polling will take place on 23 December and many analysts believe that the most likely outcome will be a weak coalition government. | Polling will take place on 23 December and many analysts believe that the most likely outcome will be a weak coalition government. |
| The monarch also strove to reassure people that his health was fine, despite the recent spell in hospital. | The monarch also strove to reassure people that his health was fine, despite the recent spell in hospital. |
| Fears over King Bhumibol's health have been heightened by uncertainties over the succession, our correspondent adds. | Fears over King Bhumibol's health have been heightened by uncertainties over the succession, our correspondent adds. |
| His son, Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn, has been groomed to succeed, but doubts are frequently expressed over his capabilities. | His son, Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn, has been groomed to succeed, but doubts are frequently expressed over his capabilities. |
| The Thai monarchy is protected by strict laws which ban any criticism of members of the royal family. | The Thai monarchy is protected by strict laws which ban any criticism of members of the royal family. |
| Are you in Thailand? Are you celebrating? Send us your experiences with the form below. | |
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