The body of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother was on Sunday evening brought to the Grand Palace, where funeral rites will be held, as people gathered to pay their respects and express heartfelt gratitude to the late former queen.
Her Majesty’s body was conveyed in a royal procession that departed from King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital at 4.26pm. The procession followed a 10-kilometre route to the Grand Palace. Their Majesties the King and Queen, together with other members of the Royal Family, travelled in the procession.
The royal coffin was transported in a grey Volkswagen Caravelle T4 van that had once served as the work vehicle of His Majesty King Rama IX. The same van had also been used to carry the body of the late King in 2016.
Thousands of mourners dressed in black, along with military personnel, police officers, doctors, nurses and officials, lined the procession route along Henri Dunant, Rama IV, Phaya Thai, Si Ayutthaya and Ratchadamnoen roads.
Moments of sorrowful silence alternated with cries of grief as the royal motorcade passed by. Many mourners held portraits of the Queen Mother close to their hearts or raised them above their heads. As the cortege moved along, tears flowed freely among the crowds – and the sky, moments earlier bright and sunny, turned sombre and grey.
‘I arrived on Ratchadamnoen Avenue in front of the Supreme Court in the morning. I never once felt tired while waiting for the royal procession. It is the greatest honour of my life to have the opportunity to bid farewell to Her Majesty,’ said Nanthapop Prombut, a Bangkok resident.
‘Since my childhood, I have seen Her Majesty tirelessly helping people in need, in both urban and rural areas. She cared deeply about the environment and the welfare of all Thais. She will forever remain in the hearts of the people,’ he said.
The royal motorcade reached the Grand Palace at 5.05pm. Her Majesty’s body was first taken to the Phiman Rattaya Throne Hall, where the royal bathing ceremony was conducted.
The royal coffin was then transferred to the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall, where the royal funeral rites were performed.
From Monday onwards, the public may pay their respects before the Queen Mother’s portrait at the Sahathai Samakhom Pavilion in the Grand Palace between 8.30am and 4pm.
From 9th November, members of the public will be able to pay their respects at the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall from 9am to noon.