Government officials this morning took part in a ceremony to pledge allegiance to His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun to mark his 66th birthday on July 28.

The ceremony held at the Government House was chaired by Gen Wilas Arunsri, the prime minister’s secretary-general, and attended by officials of the office of the Secretariat of the Prime Minister.

A similar ceremony was held at the Interior Ministry, chaired by permanent secretary for interior Chatchai Promlert.

Preparations are being made at Government House for activities to mark His Majesty the King’s 66th birthday.

On Thursday at 7pm, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, Cabinet members and their spouses will perform a religious ceremony of five religions at Santi Maitree Building of Government House to mark the occasion.

At 9am the next day, Gen Prayut will preside over the launch of activities at Government House to demonstrate “spirits of volunteerism” of the Thai people. The prime minister and Cabinet members will take part in cleaning up roads, eradicating weeds in Khlong Prem Prachakorn and Khlong Phadung Krung Kasem canals from Chamai Maruchet bridge on Phitsanulok road to Orathai bridge on Luk Luang road.