Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn said he "loves" the protesters who seek to limit his influence and he called his country "the land of compromise" Sunday in an unprecedented public statement on months of unrest.
The 68-year-old monarch's comments are rare because of laws on formalities with the royal family.
The king responded to questions from the news media during a stroll with thousands of yellow-shirted supporters clutching portraits of King Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida - their biggest show of solidarity since demonstrations broke out.
There have been clashes between rival protesters in recent weeks.
"We will live loyally and die faithfully...long live the king!" the crowd chanted as the once-unapproachable monarch emerged from the palace to greet them.
Asked about what he would tell the protesters who've been out on the streets demanding change, Vajiralongkorn said "no comment" before adding: "We love them all the same" three times, CNN quoted the king as saying during an interview.
It was the first time that the king has spoken to members of the foreign press since 1979 when he was Crown Prince.
The protests, mostly led by students, have called for Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-Cha to resign.
A core demand of the demonstrations has been reform of Thailand's powerful monarchy to ensure the King is answerable to the constitution.
The demonstrations have also demanded other changes - including an end to draconian royal defamation laws. This is an extraordinary move in a country where insulting the monarchy can mean years behind bars.
As Thailand struggles with an ailing economy made worse by restrictions to curb the spread of the coronavirus, protesters have started to dissect the king's immense fortune and power.
Vajiralongkorn has fused his massive influence by strengthening the King's Guard, his own hand-picked military unit. The monarch has also jacked up his personal fortune and transferred billions of dollars of assets controlled by the Crown Property Bureau to his control.
