King ill, visits cancelled

His Majesty the King's scheduled trip to Ratchaburi will be postponed indefinitely after the detection of slight bleeding in his brain.

Agriculture Minister Theera Wongsamut yesterday said Grand Chamberlain Distorn Vajarodaya had informed him that the King's trip to the royally initiated Khao Cha-ngum soil-rehabilitation project and the Nong Pho Dairy Cooperative in Ratchaburi - which was scheduled to take place tomorrow - would have be to postponed until further notice.

The Royal Household Bureau, meanwhile, released a statement that His Majesty experienced muscle spasms and a slightly faster heartbeat rate on Thursday. According to the statement, X-ray results show a slight subdural bleeding in the left frontal lobe.

"After medication was given, the muscle spasm disappeared and the heartbeat rate returned to normal," the statement said.

However, his doctors have suggested that he refrain from engaging in royal work for some time. The much-beloved monarch has been undergoing medical treatment at Bangkok's Siriraj Hospital for the past few years.

Hundreds of people flocked to the hospital yesterday to sign messages wishing the King well.