Some 7,813 people entered the monkhood nationwide between Jan 8 and 15 to pray for the quick recovery of Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendiradebyavati, who is unconscious due to a heart problem.
Suttipong Juljarern, permanent secretary in the Interior Ministry, said yesterday the cabinet decided on Dec 27 that the Interior Ministry should organise the ordination nationwide to support the princess' recovery, with all volunteers set to remain in the monkhood for 15 days.
The mass ordination showed people's love and intention to pray for her quick, he said.
The princess fainted while she was training her pet dogs in Pak Chong district of Nakhon Ratchasima at 6.20pm on Dec 14, 2022, according to the Royal Household Bureau.
Her Royal Highness was taken to Pakchongnana Hospital in the district to receive initial treatment under the advice of royal doctors. She was transported by helicopter to King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital after her condition was stabilised.
The princess's pets were being trained as they competed in the Thailand Working Dog Championship 2022 organised by the Royal Thai Army at the Military Dog Battalion in the district from Dec 10-19, 2022.
On Jan 8, the Royal Household Bureau said the princess remained unconscious, quoting royal doctors as saying her condition resulted from severe heart arrhythmia due to inflammation of the heart after a mycoplasma infection.