2 January 2008

Kingdom mourns the loss of a princess

The nation mourned the death of Princess Galyani Vadhana, who was 84 when she died after a long battle with abdominal cancer.

A statement by the Royal Household Bureau said the Princess died at 2.54am at Siriraj Hospital, with His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej at her side. Shortly after the announcement, tens of thousands of people, dressed in black, gathered around Siriraj to pay their last respects. Official mourning periods of 100 days and 15-days were set for members of the Royal Family and government officials respectively, and millions of other people also observed the period of respect.

The body of the Princess was later cremated in an elaborate ceremony according to royal tradition on November 15 at Sanam Luang.

The Princess was born on May 6, 1923 in London. In addition to being an active patron of the arts, she was president and honorary president of various organisations and foundations, including the Cardiac Children’s Foundation, the Princess Mother’s Charity Fund, and the Autistic Foundation of Thailand. She also created her own foundation to support gifted young musicians.

2 January 2008

Kingdom mourns the loss of a princess

The nation mourned the death of Princess Galyani Vadhana, who was 84 when she died after a long battle with abdominal cancer.

A statement by the Royal Household Bureau said the Princess died at 2.54am at Siriraj Hospital, with His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej at her side. Shortly after the announcement, tens of thousands of people, dressed in black, gathered around Siriraj to pay their last respects. Official mourning periods of 100 days and 15-days were set for members of the Royal Family and government officials respectively, and millions of other people also observed the period of respect.

The body of the Princess was later cremated in an elaborate ceremony according to royal tradition on November 15 at Sanam Luang.

The Princess was born on May 6, 1923 in London. In addition to being an active patron of the arts, she was president and honorary president of various organisations and foundations, including the Cardiac Children’s Foundation, the Princess Mother’s Charity Fund, and the Autistic Foundation of Thailand. She also created her own foundation to support gifted young musicians.