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Published on October 21, 2007

The royal physician in attendance reported that he had requested royal permission to reduce the number of antibiotics to be administered to only one type, as the inflammation of the large intestine had gone down.

Following an announcement on Monday that His Majesty had regained strength in his right arm and hand to nearly the normal level, the eighth statement yesterday affirmed that the right arm and hand had reached the normal level.

HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn arrived at Siriraj Hospital at 3.20pm to visit the King and graciously supplied well-wishers waiting on the ground floor of the Chalerm Prakiat Building with 60 crates of crackers. The Princess returned home at 7.30pm.

The huge outpouring of concern for the beloved monarch continued as throngs showed up at the hospital to wish His Majesty a speedy recovery.

Since it was the weekend, the crowds were dense. An elderly woman collapsed from heat and exhaustion near the album-signing desk. Police warned people to beware of pickpockets, as three complaints were filed yesterday.

Greek Ambassador Ioannis Papadopoulos brought a flower basket and wrote a get-well message, while coach Piya Watcharamethakul led the national volleyball team players to express their wishes for His Majesty's full recovery before heading for Japan to compete in Volleyball World Cup 2007.

Others seen making an appearance were Narong Patibatsarakich, chairman of the Thais with Disability Foundation, folk singer Ekkarat Suwannaphum, and Thapakorn Dissayanant, production director at Kantana Group.

Boonkhom Chareerak, 46, said he had ridden his bike for two days from Kalasin and intended to remain at the hospital until His Majesty was completely healed.

Supoj Chorkaew, 34, a disabled native of Angthong, said he had taken half a month to paint a picture of His Majesty by attaching the paintbrush to his elbow and would present the portrait to His Majesty while writing a message at the hospital.

Disathorn Watcharothai, director of His Majesty's Personal Affairs Division, brought 5,000 pictures of His Majesty in blue for distribution.

Luangpu Buddha-isara from Nakhon Pathom's Or Noi Temple handed out 2,000 lockets containing His Majesty's picture to visitors.

In Uttaradit, residents planted 10,000 trees in Muang district's Tambon Ban Kho to make merit and pray for His Majesty.

Kham Muang district in the northeastern province of Kalasin joined forces with local weavers to produce a special Praewa silk fabric to present to His Majesty for his 80th birthday during his trip to Sakon Nakhon.

The three best weavers in Ban Phone Village have worked on the fabric since January and it is 80 per cent complete. When it is finished, expected by late next month, it will be nine metres long and 80.43 centimetres wide.