Thai royal couple head for palace after extensive hospital stays

The king and queen of Thailand departed for their royal palace Thursday after being released from long-term stays at a Bangkok hospital, officials said. It is the first time the couple will have visited Klai Kangwon Palace, 150 miles south of the capital city, in five years, the Bangkok Post reported. The queen, Sirikit Kittiyakon, 81, has received medical care at Siriraj Hospital since suffering a stroke in July 2012. King Bhumbol Adulyadej, 86, had been at the hospital since September 2009. As they left the hospital, throngs of people chanting, "Long live their majesties," greeted the king and queen. About 100 police were deployed along the royal route through Bangkok. A team of doctors and nurses accompanied the couple. After visiting the palace, the couple were expected to stay in the beach town of Hua Hin for an undetermined period, said Prachuap Khiri Khan, provincial governor Weera Sriwathanatrakoon. The Thai navy has deployed five vessels off the coast from the palace, a navy official said.