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Published on January 11, 2008

More than 10,000 mourners in black yesterday attended the Grand Palace after the Royal Household Bureau for the first time permitted the public to pay respects to the body of Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana, the elder sister of two kings.

The Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall, where the Princess's body is lying, was opened to the public for two hours, between 2pm and 4pm.

Groups were allowed entry 100 at a time. Mourners waited respectfully for their turns.

Kanokngam Kongphokha, 50, was among the first to arrive at the throne hall. She wept as she paid her respects.

"The Princess did a lot to help His Majesty the King improve the quality of life for people," she said.

The Princess, who passed away at the age of 84 last Wednesday, made significant contributions to social welfare and public health.

Kanokngam had visited Siriraj Hospital every day since the Princess was admitted. She said she would mourn her passing for 100 days.

Kemika Cheumoungman, 52, travelled from Pathum Thani province and arrived at the Grand Palace at 5am yesterday. She waited until 2.30pm for admission.

"I followed news of the Princess since she was admitted in October. I do not know how to express my feelings, but I want to tell you that I loved her very much," she said.

She said she and 10 colleagues had taken many opportunities to travel to see Their Majesties the King and Queen and other members of the Royal Family over the past decade. They appreciate their efforts for the country, including those of the Princess. She said they had done much to improve people's quality of life.

Tongsook Saechin, 84, of Nakhon Pathom, has mourned at the Grand Palace several times since the passing of the Princess.

"I saw her when she was a little girl and playing around the Grand Palace. I feel like she is my sister and very close to me," she said. "When I heard she had passed away, I could not sleep. I could only cry."

It was Sunan Yolthantan's first mourning attendance. The 62-year-old travelled with her son from Nakhon Si Thammarat province.

"It was my luck and good opportunity to be able to travel so far to pay my respects to the body of the Princess," she said. "I'll be here in Bangkok until the end of the mourning period."

The Poh Teck Tung Foundation is catering for mourners free until April 11. It starts serving from 7am. Three other caterers open between 10am and 2pm, and again from 5pm to 7pm.

Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin said people could donate food or transfer money to the city via its Krung Thai Bank account. The number is 088 0 02261 2. "Receipts will be sent to donors who fax their transfer slips to (02) 221 2170," he said.

Apirak said the city provided mobile toilets and had doctors on standby.

Meanwhile, the Office of National Archives will compile the chronicle of HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana.

"The chronicle will comprise two books, each with about 500 pages," Sureerat Wongsa-ngiam, the head of the Office of National Archives, said yesterday.

Sureerat said the format of the chronicle would be similar to the chronicles of Queen Rambhai Bharni, the royal consort of King Prajadhipok (King Rama VII), and HRH Princess Sri Nagarindra the Princess Mother.

The Princess Mother was the mother of two kings, including the current monarch.

Sureerat said the chronicle would require a budget of at least Bt1 million, and about 10,000 volumes would be distributed at the royal funeral for the monarch's elder sister.

Meanwhile, Culture Ministry permanent secretary Vira Rojpojchanarat said Culture Minister Khunying Khaisri Sri-aroon was now seeking Bt9.5 million from the Budget Bureau so that the ministry could publish 1 million more volumes of the commemorative book about the Princess.

The commemorative book details the Princess's biography.

Vira said his ministry would also publish 50,000 volumes of the commemorative book in English.

"We will give this to all Thai embassies and also to international organisations, so that foreigners know about the Princess's biography and her gracious behaviour," he said.

Pongphon Sarnsamak

 The Nation