By Max Constant
BANGKOK
Hundreds of thousands of Thais took to two wheels to honor Queen Sirikit's 83rd birthday on Sunday, the crown prince leading bicycles along the streets of Bangkok for a “Bike for Mom” event.
The 63-year-old king-in-waiting took to the helm of the parade, followed by junta leader-cum-Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, his military-appointed cabinet, and their bodyguards.
As they cycled along public thoroughfares, crowds lining the route shouted “Long live the King” - customary when any royal motorcade passes by.
“I feel overjoyed. We never had such an event in Thailand. I am proud that I can participate,” Siriwan Noppakorn told Anadolu Agency as she waited at a crossroads for the convoy to pass by.
Teenager Nisakorn Apirat told Anadolu Agency that she had joined the event with her family to demonstrate her love for the aling queen.
"We want her to be proud that Thai people organize such an event for her. My second motivation is just to be able to exercise," she added.
“Bike for Mom” was heavily publicised for months ahead of the event. Sirikit was unable to attend as she suffered a stroke in 2012, and spends most of her time in hospital.
Rumours of her ailing condition circulate daily, and the Royal Household has not given a bulletin on her health for over a year.
The king is in a similar, although slightly stronger position. The Royal Household Bureau revealed last week Monday that the revered 87-year-old monarch - the world's longest reigning - has recovered from increased cerebrospinal fluid and lung inflammation.
Since 2009, however, he has spent a majority of his time confined to a Bangkok hospital.
And with his health declining, anxiety over his succession, which could happen with his death or if he were to abdicate in favor of his only son, has been mounting steadily.
While Adulyadej is seen as key to the stability of Thailand, where he holds a revered, quasi-religious status, his son, Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn is far less popular.
Although the topic of succession is taboo given the country's harsh lèse-majesté laws, some observers have said privately that Saturday's event was, above all, organised as a way to boost the popularity of Vajiralongkorn.
“It is a strange event, with the prince in front, the junta leader and all cabinet members behind. It is obviously an attempt to make him look better in the eyes of Thai people,” a Thai reporter - who did not wish to be named for fear of contravening the country's harsh lese majeste laws - told Anadolu Agency.
Analysts have said that they expect to see more such events in coming months, as the Royal circle attempts to bolster Vajiralongkorn's credentials in preparation for a future ascension to the throne.
On Saturday, 40,000 riders participated in the event in Bangkok, while 250,000 took part in the provinces - a turnout the junta hopes will see the country enter the Guinness Book of Records as the cycling event with the most participants in the world.
Meanwhile, policemen on motorbikes rode nearby, while others prevented bystanders from taking photographs - although some of managed to steal shots on their mobiles.
Earlier in the week, police announced the use of unauthorized drones equipped with cameras was also banned for security reasons.
Thailand has some of the harshest lese-majeste laws in the world; designed to protect the country's highly revered monarch and his family, which the ruling junta views as above politics.
The crime is liable to a jail term from 3 to 15 years.
