BANGKOK - Hundreds of thousands of people lined the streets to celebrate His Majesty the King's 85th birthday on Wednesday.
The well-wishers, most wearing yellow, began gathreing at the Royal Plaza and Siriraj Hospital on Tuesday evening. Yellow symbolises Monday, the day of the King's birth.
The reports said all spaces around the King Rama V Equestrian Monument at the Royal Plaza were fully occupied by the well-wishers.
His Majesty the King, who with 66 years of service is the world's longest reigning monarch, will give a grand audience to an expected crowd of at least 200,000 people at the Anantasamakom Throne Hall in front of the Royal Plaza at 10.30am.
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All roads near the Royal Plaza, including Ratchadamnoen Nok road (from Makkawan intersection to Mitsakawan intersection), Uthong Nai road, Ratchawithi road, Ayutthaya road (from Benchamabophit temple to Pol 1 intersection), Phitsanulok road (from Wang Daeng intersectoin to Panitchayakarn intersection), and Krung Kasem road (from Pracha Kasem intersection to Makkawan intersection) were closed to traffic on Wednesday.
The King was admitted to hospital in September 2009 with a respiratory condition and has lived there ever since in a special royal suite.
His Majesty suffered a minor brain bleed in July, but has since made several official appearances including meeting United States President Barack Obama during his visit to the kingdom in November.
