KINGDOM MOURNS

KINGDOM MOURNS

Princess passes away peacefully after six months in hospital POST REPORTERS

The nation is mourning the death of Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana, who passed away in the early hours of yesterday after a long battle with abdominal cancer. She was 84. A statement by the Royal Household Bureau said the Princess passed away at 2.54am at Siriraj hospital, where she had been receiving treatment for the last six months. His Majesty the King and members of the Royal Family were at her side.

Thirawat Kullanant, dean of the hospital's faculty of medicine, said the Princess passed away peacefully.

He said she had a strong spirit and had strictly followed the doctors' advice.

"We feel profound sorrow at her passing. We did not feel weary throughout the treatment process and we are deeply grateful for Their Majesties' kindness," he said.

The Princess' condition deteriorated sharply on Tuesday night. The Royal Household Bureau's 38th statement said her breathing was weaker, her kidneys had stopped functioning and she was unresponsive.

The King has declared a 100-day mourning period for members of the Royal Family and palace officials.

The government has announced a 15-day mourning period for government and state enterprise officials. Government agencies, Thai embassies and consulates, and educational institutes across the country will fly their flags at half-mast for 15 days.

All television stations yesterday cancelled their regular programming and broadcast special programmes in honour of the Princess. State-run Channel 11 and TITV and radio stations under the Public Relations Department will air special programmes in her honour for 15 days.

Grief shrouded Siriraj as tens of thousands of people, dressed in black, converged there early yesterday morning to pay their last respects to the Princess. Many wept as they read the Royal Household Bureau's 39th statement on the bulletin board announcing her passing.

One man was seen writing down the statement in his notebook, saying he wished the bureau would distribute the copies to the public. "This is historic. I want to put it in a frame," he said.

In the afternoon, the crowd lined up in front of the Grand Palace for a funeral procession from Siriraj hospital to Dusit Maha Prasart Throne Hall which took place at 3.30pm.

HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn and HRH Princess Chulabhorn accompanied the procession, which was led by Wat Chana Songkhram abbot Somdej Phra Maha Theeracharn.

As the motorcade was leaving the hospital via the Tha Nam exit hundreds of people, including students of Siriraj hospital's nursing school, knelt down and performed a krab.

Their Majesties and all members of the Royal Family arrived at the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall about 5pm for the funeral.

The King issued a command allowing members of the public to perform a bathing rite before the Princess' portrait at Sahathai Samakhom in the Grand Palace.

Many arrived early in the morning to queue up for the bathing rite. Mourners included Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, People Power party secretary-general Surapong Suebwonglee and Chart Thai leader Banharn Silpa-archa.

Out of respect, the Chart Thai and Puea Pandin parties postponed a planned press briefing on their decision to join the coalition government led by the People Power party.

Across the country people flocked to provincial halls and hospitals to sign condolence books and perform bathing rites before the Princess' portrait.

Other mourners went to the website http://http://www.hrh84yrs.org to pay their respects. The website was created in the Princess' honour by her staff.

Members of the public wishing to pay their respects can do so at Sala Sahathai Samakhom. They will be allowed access to the Dusit Maha Prasart Throne Hall after the seven-day royal ceremony has passed.