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International royals

Thai Queen admitted to hospital with lung inflammation

Thailand’s Royal Household has announced that Queen Sirikit has been admitted to hospital to be treated for an inflammation in the lungs. Her Majesty was admitted to hospital on Wednesday after she was discovered to have a high fever.

The statement from the palace reads that doctors are treating The Queen’s condition with antibiotics and that she has remained conscious throughout her time in the hospital.

Queen Sirikit with her late husband, King Bhumibol - Photo in the Public domain via Wikimedia Commons

Queen Sirikit with her late husband, King Bhumibol – Photo in the Public domain via Wikimedia Commons

A blood test has revealed that the 84-year-old had a high number of white blood cells in her system which indicates inflammation of the lungs.

After undergoing further tests at the King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, an x-ray confirmed that Her Majesty was suffering from lung inflammation. On Thursday, the Queen’s fever dropped and she was able to breathe and eat well.

The Queen is recovering well, and the statement ended by saying Sirikit’s fever has now dropped and that she was now able to breathe and eat more comfortably.

It has been a turbulent time in Thailand over the past couple of months. In October, King Bhumibol, the world’s oldest reigning monarch, died at the age of 88.

The King spent most of the past few years in hospital for various illnesses. Shortly before his death, he had undergone a procedure to drain fluids from his spine. Afterwards, he was placed on a ventilator and was said to be in an unstable condition.

Following the King’s death, a year long period of mourning was declared. Tourists have been warned to be respectful and to wear sombre clothing.

King Bhumibol will be succeeded by his son, Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn. This process has yet to take place, however, as the King’s son is still in mourning. This has only increased the level of instability in the country.