His Majesty the King grants public audience at Grand Palace

BANGKOK, Dec 5 (TNA) - His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej appeared in public to mark his 82nd birthday on December 5, granting a public audience to members of the royal family, civil servants and members of parliament at the Grand Palace's Amarin Winitchai Throne Hall.

His Majesty the King, in a wheelchair pushed through the Siriraj Hospital grounds, wore his customary full royal uniform in white.

All members of the royal family were also present at the hospital and followed His Majesty the King to the Grand Palace.

On the way to Amarin Winitchai Throne Hall, His Majesty the King raised his hand to wave at a crowd of thousands of people who had gathered and waiting along the road, wearing pink shirts and bearing national flags in their hands, to greet the revered monarch and shouted "Long Live the king."

After the brief ceremony at the Throne Hall, His Majesty the King returned to Siriraj Hospital.

The world's longest-reigning monarch was admitted to Siriraj Hospital on September 19 with a lung infection and fever. His condition has improved, according to the Royal Household Bureau, but he remains hospitalised.

This is His Majesty's first public appearance outside Siriraj Hospital in months. Since being admitted to hospital on September 19, the monarch was only seen in public twice -- once on October 23, Chulalongkorn Memorial Day, and once on the evening of Loy Krathong on November 2.

His Majesty the King earlier designated His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn as his representative to perform religious and royal ceremonies on the occasion of His Majesty's birthday on Saturday afternoon and the ceremonies on Sunday morning.

The Crown Prince will grant an audience to members of the diplomatic corps on behalf of the king at the Dusidalai Hall, Dusit Palace on December 8.(TNA)