PM Granted Audience With HM King, Ending Wild Rumours

PM Prayuth escorting two newly appointed ministers, Wisut Srisupan and Amnuay Patise, to swear their oath to King Bhumibol, 23 November 2014

BANGKOK – Prime Minister and military junta chairman Prayuth Chan-ocha was granted an audience by His Majesty the King over the weekend, after the palace initially announced the monarch was not "ready" for the meeting.

PM Prayuth escorted two newly appointed ministers, Wisut Srisupan and Amnuay Patise, to swear their oath on Sunday before King Bhumibol, who is currently receiving treatment for several illnesses at Siriraj Hospital in Bangkok.

His Majesty the King, who will turn 87 in December, spent approximately 40 minutes talking with Gen. Prayuth and the two ministers, palace officials said. 

The meeting was originally scheduled to take place on 21 November, but the palace said in a statement on Friday night that the occasion had to be postponed because of the king's health. 

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"The team of doctors who are assisting His Majesty the King conclude that His Majesty is not ready for the audience, so he granted the permission to postpone the meeting," the palace statement said. 

The Friday announcement sparked wave of speculation on social media about His Majesty's health.

However, the rumours were put to an end on Sunday when the palace released a photo of Gen. Prayuth talking to His Majesty the King at the hospital.

King Bhumibol was checked in to the Bangkok hospital on 3 October with a high fever and rapid heartbeat. The king later underwent a surgery to remove his gallbladder, which was said to be infected. 

On 13 November, the palace said His Majesty was also suffering from an intestinal infection, but that his overall health was improving. 

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