Travel news - Thai festivals & events

Foreign kings, queens invited to special royal celebrations

Kings and queens worldwide have been invited to Thailand's celebrations of the 60th anniversary of His Majesty the King's ascension to the throne in June next year.

King Bhumibol Adulyadej, now the world's longest-reigning monarch, was born on Dec 5, 1927, in the United States. He became the ninth king of the Chakri Dynasty in June 1946. The kingdom celebrated his Golden Jubilee in 1996.

To mark the King's Diamond Jubilee, the government is organising a special event for foreign monarchs and dignitaries to join in the kingdom's celebration of this auspicious occasion.

The special event is to be held separately from other celebrations to mark the 60th anniversary of His Majesty's ascension to the throne.

A government committee, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Surakiart Sathirathai, is handling preparations for the special event.

Mr Surakiart, a former foreign affairs minister, yesterday inspected the Navy Auditorium and Navy Council Building, where the special Diamond Jubilee celebrations will take place.

Mr Surakiart told reporters that the government had received royal permission to organise the special celebrations on June 12-13.

The ruling monarchs of 29 countries around the world have been invited to the special celebrations.

The invitations were delivered in person by either Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra or Mr Surakiart to government leaders of those countries for submission to their monarchs, he said.

On June 12, a well-wishing ceremony, hosted by the government, will begin at 4pm at the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall and will be joined by foreign monarchs.

At 6.30pm, His Majesty will open an exhibition of his works over the past 60 years at the Navy Auditorium, in the presence of the foreign monarchs.

After that, all the monarchs will proceed to the Navy Council Building to have tea and watch a royal barge procession.

Mr Surakiart said the royal barge procession would be even more spectacular than the one organised to entertain state leaders attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit in Bangkok in 2003.

On June 13, His Majesty will host a dinner reception for the foreign monarchs at the Chakri Throne Hall in the Grand Palace.
Bangkok Post December 2005 www.bangkokpost.com