28 October 1996

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip visit

Queen Elizabeth II renewed her acquaintance with Thailand for the first time in 24 years, arriving on a five-day visit accompanied by her husband, Prince Philip.

The British royals viewed a Royal Barge Procession in Bangkok before recalling the glory of the Ayutthaya era in a light and sound show at the former capital. As if to welcome the British monarch, the floods in Ayutthaya, which had been a metre deep only a week earlier, receded to just a few centimetres behind the floodwalls as Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip arrived. Thousands of onlookers, many of whom had travelled from Bangkok, lined the road for hours to catch a glimpse of the queen amid tight security.

The royal visitors, accompanied by King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit and other members of the Thai royal family, arrived at Siriyalai Mansion to view the Loy Kratong ceremony in which thousands of miniature floats decorated with flowers and candles were launched into the river.

28 October 1996

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip visit

Queen Elizabeth II renewed her acquaintance with Thailand for the first time in 24 years, arriving on a five-day visit accompanied by her husband, Prince Philip.

The British royals viewed a Royal Barge Procession in Bangkok before recalling the glory of the Ayutthaya era in a light and sound show at the former capital. As if to welcome the British monarch, the floods in Ayutthaya, which had been a metre deep only a week earlier, receded to just a few centimetres behind the floodwalls as Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip arrived. Thousands of onlookers, many of whom had travelled from Bangkok, lined the road for hours to catch a glimpse of the queen amid tight security.

The royal visitors, accompanied by King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit and other members of the Thai royal family, arrived at Siriyalai Mansion to view the Loy Kratong ceremony in which thousands of miniature floats decorated with flowers and candles were launched into the river.