HM King Visits Royal Farm Project in First Trip Outside Hospital

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Khaosod English
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HM the King at  Suan Chitralada Palace in Bangkok, 9 March 2015.

BANGKOK — His Majesty the King visited a royal agriculture project inside his palace in Bangkok today in his first trip outside the hospital since he was checked in last October.

King Bhumibol, 87, was escorted out of his ward at Siriraj Hospital to Suan Chitralada Palace at around 3.30 pm today. At the palace, His Majesty visited farm projects that he helped initiate, according to a statement provided by the Royal Household Bureau. 

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HM the King at  Suan Chitralada Palace in Bangkok, 9 March 2015.

Suan Chitralada Palace is the official residence of His Majesty the King, though in recent years he has spent most of his time at a summer palace in Prachuap Kiri Khan province, approximately a two hour drive south of Bangkok. 

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According to the Royal Household Bureau, the king returned to the hospital at around 5 pm today. Crowds of well-wishers lined the roads and shouted "Long live the King" as his motorcade passed. 

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HM the King at  Suan Chitralada Palace in Bangkok, 9 March 2015.

King Bhumibol was admitted to the Siriraj Hospital in October 2014 with a high fever and later underwent a surgery to remove his gallbladder. Although His Majesty has made several public appearances on the hospital grounds, today was his first trip off the premises.
 
His Majesty was initially scheduled to appear at the Grand Palace on his 87th birthday on 5 December 2014, but the appearance was canceled due to health concerns. 
 
The king's frail health is a cause of anxiety for many Thais. The monarch is widely credited with bringing stability to the Kingdom during his more than 60 years on the throne.
 
 
 
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