24 May 1949

Nation pays homage to King Rama VII

One of the largest crowds in the capital’s history gathered to pay their respects to the memory of King Prajadhipok as his Queen returned to the kingdom bearing his ashes.

A state procession bore the ashes from HMS Meklong to the Grand Palace under elaborate escort. Queen Rambhai Barni thus ended the long voyage from England, where the King died in 1941 after having abdicated the throne six years earlier. The Queen returned upon the invitation of the government to live the rest of her life, as she told friends in England, ‘quietly in my home’.

King Prajadhipok was the last absolute monarch of Thailand, after coup leaders demanded he introduce a constitutional monarchy following the 1932 revolution.

On June 24 of that year, members of the People’s Party captured the commander of the royal guard and arrested over 40 royal family members, announcing that the absolute monarchy had been overthrown.

24 May 1949

Nation pays homage to King Rama VII

One of the largest crowds in the capital’s history gathered to pay their respects to the memory of King Prajadhipok as his Queen returned to the kingdom bearing his ashes.

A state procession bore the ashes from HMS Meklong to the Grand Palace under elaborate escort. Queen Rambhai Barni thus ended the long voyage from England, where the King died in 1941 after having abdicated the throne six years earlier. The Queen returned upon the invitation of the government to live the rest of her life, as she told friends in England, ‘quietly in my home’.

King Prajadhipok was the last absolute monarch of Thailand, after coup leaders demanded he introduce a constitutional monarchy following the 1932 revolution.

On June 24 of that year, members of the People’s Party captured the commander of the royal guard and arrested over 40 royal family members, announcing that the absolute monarchy had been overthrown.