Thais pay respect to late Princess

Thais pay respect to late Princess

Hundreds of people from all walks of life, dressed in black, thronged to the Grand Palace Thursday where His Majesty the King had given permission for the general public to participate in the traditional Buddhist ceremonial bathing rites before a portrait of the late HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana.

Princess Galyani Vadhana, the elder sister of Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej, died on Wednesday at the age of 84 after a long battle with abdominal cancer .

The king, who was close to his sister and visited her in hospital almost daily, declared a 100-day mourning period among royal family members and royal court officials.

The government also announced a 15-day mourning period for government and state enterprise employees, and flags at all public buildings will be flown at half mast for 15 days.

The Royal Household Bureau allowed the public to pay homage before the portrait of the late princess a bit earlier than originally scheduled for the official opening times as a great number of mourners crowded at the front of the Sala Sahathai Samakhom Throne Hall since early Thursday morning.

Access to the bathing rites, which take place before a portrait of the late princess, is allowed between Thursday January 3 and Wednesday January 9, from 9am to 5pm, according to a statement issued by the Royal Household Bureau.

From January 10, after the seven-day royal ceremony, members of the public will be allowed to pay homage before the royal remains at the Dusit Maha Prasart Throne Hall from 9am to 4pm daily.

Tourist are advised to enter the Grand Palace during the week-long royal rites via the entrance opposite the Ministry of Defence.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Culture was planning to establish the Galyani Vadhana Musical Institute in recognition of the Princess's wish to see the first ever classical music institute set up in Thailand to allow the young Thai generation to study classical music.

The construction of the institute is set for completion within three years, with a budget of 22 million baht, according to Culture Minister Khunying Khaisri Sri-arun.

The head office of the upcoming institution will also serve as a memorial site in a tribute to the late princess.