The crowds gathered at Sanam Luang, adjacent to the Grand Palace, and queued to offer water for the royal bathing ceremony of Her Majesty The Queen Mother. The ceremony venue was arranged at the Sahathai Samakhom Pavilion within the Grand Palace grounds, reports the Bangkok Post.
The Bureau of the Royal Household invited members of the public to attend the water presentation at the pavilion from 8:30am to noon yesterday.
The transfer of Her Majesty’s body was scheduled to begin at 4pm the same day. The royal procession was to commence from King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, where the Queen Mother had resided prior to her passing, before proceeding along Henri Dunant, Rama IV, Phaya Thai, Si Ayutthaya, Ratchadamnoen and Na Phra Lan roads en route to the Grand Palace.
The 10-kilometre-long procession was expected to take approximately 20 minutes. Her Majesty’s body would be placed at the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall. Many people began gathering along the procession route near the Grand Palace from Saturday.
Aksika Kaysornsakul, 56, said she had travelled from Nonthaburi province, arriving at 6pm on Saturday, determined to pay her respects to the Queen Mother, who had tirelessly served the nation and its people throughout the seven-decade reign of King Rama IX.
“Her Majesty the Queen Mother greatly supported all groups of Thais, particularly through her promotion of Thai craftsmanship,” she said.
Mayuree Bandasak, 77, from Bang Khen district in Bangkok, arrived yesterday morning. In tears, she said the Queen Mother had created employment for countless Thais without discrimination.
Thaiyaporn Arammekha, 65, recalled seeing King Rama IX and the Queen Mother during their royal visits since she was 15 years old.
“The Queen Mother would ask young people at those events where they came from and whether they had eaten. I am deeply moved by her kindness… Her Majesty truly improved the quality of life of Thai people in all regions,” Ms Thaiyaporn said.
Nikhom Deen-Islam, 49, from Min Buri district in Bangkok, said the Queen Mother had devoted herself to improving the well-being of all Thais, including Muslims in the South.
“Her Majesty visited the South many times and encouraged the development of local handicrafts to help people earn a living,” he said.
The Bureau of the Royal Household announced yesterday that members of the public may pay their respects before the Queen Mother’s portrait and sign condolence books at the Sahathai Samakhom Pavilion in the Grand Palace between 8:30am and 4pm from Monday onwards.
From Nov 9, people will be able to pay their respects to the Queen Mother at the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall between 9am and 9pm.