Thailand explodes in pink for king’s health

Messages shared on social media since the palace statement have urged Thais to wear pink, a colour which first became important a few years ago when royal astrologers said it was good for the king and would promote wellbeing. Since then, the king has sometimes been seen in public wearing pink. In Bangkok’s Silom district, Chay Chinapairot, 46, a government employee, was among those wearing pink. “I’m very concerned. I might wear pink every day,” he said. One Facebook page called ‘We Love Thai King’, which has more than 2.5 million members, used the social media hashtag #wishthathismajestyrecoverssoon in the Thai language. News about the king’s health is closely monitored and the wording of palace statements on the king’s health is intensely scrutinised.