Thousands Gather To Pay Final Respects To Queen Sirikit, The Queen Mother
By Kenny Teng
BANGKOK, Oct 26 (Bernama) -- Thousands of Thais dressed in black and white gathered along the route from King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital to the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall at the Grand Palace on Sunday to express their loyalty and pay their respects to Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother.
Many mourners were seen holding portraits of the Queen Mother as her royal remains were transferred in a royal cortege from the hospital to the Grand Palace.
Her Majesty passed away on Friday evening at the age of 93.
The late Queen Sirikit was conveyed in a silver van at the centre of a royal procession that departed King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital at about 4 pm, and made its way along a 10-kilometre route before arriving at the Grand Palace at around 5 pm.
Saengchan Kalantanon, 72, who stood by the roadside near the Grand Palace, said that upon hearing the Royal Household Bureau's announcement of Her Majesty's passing, she immediately felt the need to pay her respects before the royal urn to honour and remember Her Majesty's boundless grace and kindness.
She said her two grandchildren had been waiting with her at Sanam Luang since Saturday night, hoping to witness the royal procession and pay their respects up close.
"I'm just an elderly person who came early... but there are many others who travelled from far away and arrived even earlier than I did. This truly shows the deep loyalty and devotion of the Thai people," she told Bernama.
She added that during the royal funeral of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great, she and her family had also come to witness the royal procession and pay their final respects before the royal urn.
Another mourner, Waraporn Thongnak, 20, from Sing Buri province, said that although she had never personally seen or met Her Majesty, she learned about the Queen Mother's work at school.
"It was through those lessons that I developed a sense of connection and admiration for Her Majesty. I was especially impressed by her work through the SUPPORT Foundation's handicraft centres, such as weaving and basketry. I remember my teacher teaching us about Her Majesty's efforts to preserve and promote Thai craftsmanship," she said.
Earlier in the day, many Thais also took the opportunity to participate in the water-offering ceremony for the funeral bathing rite of the late Queen Mother.
People began queueing from early morning before the ceremony commenced at 8.30 am in front of Her Majesty's portrait.
On Sunday, the Bureau of the Royal Household announced that members of the public may pay their respects before the Queen Mother's portrait and sign condolence books at the Sahathai Samakhom Pavilion in the Grand Palace.
From Nov 9, the public will be able to pay their respects before the royal urn of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother, at the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall between 9 am and 9 pm.
-- BERNAMA
