King to receive royal guests
(Bangkok Post dd. 12 juni 2006 // DN)
**
http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/120606_news03.jpg
**Japanese Emperor Akihito, right, Empress Michiko, left, and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn. —PATTANAPONG HIRUNARD
http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/120606_news04.jpg
Swaziland King Mswati III, right, and Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/120606_news05.jpg
Norwegian Crown Prince Haakon, left, Crown Princess Matte-Merit, centre, and Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. — The Public Relations Department
Royal Barge Procession today, before state banquet tomorrow
POST REPORTERS
The painstaking preparations for the grand celebration of His Majesty the King’s Diamond Jubilee culminate today as heads of state and royalty from 25 countries assemble in Bangkok to honour the world’s longest reigning monarch.
History will be made in the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall for the second time in four days when the King presides over the ceremony to receive the royal guests coming to attend the grand events marking the 60th anniversary of his accession to the throne.
On Friday, several hundred thousand people gathered outside the Throne Hall and millions more watched on TV, paying their respects as the King, with Her Majesty the Queen at his side, appeared on the balcony to deliver a speech to the nation marking his 60th year as monarch.
Seeing the sea of well-wishers in yellow, the King said in his message that he was overwhelmed and the gathering gave him strength.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/120606_news06.jpg
Tonga’s Crown Prince Tupouto’a. — AFP
http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/120606_news07.jpg
Prince Albert of Monaco. —
http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/120606_news08.jpg
Prince Henrik of Denmark, right, and Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. — The Public Relations Department
Tomorrow Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei will represent the royal dignitaries visiting the kingdom in delivering a celebratory message to the King at the state banquet to be held at the Borommaratchasathit Maholan Throne Hall, which is the extended part of the Chakri Maha Prasat Throne Hall.
The banquet will be hosted by the King and Queen.
After the royal reception this afternoon, the King will lead the visitors to watch the 40-minute procession of 52 royal barges, highlighted by the stately Suphannahongsa, along the Chao Phraya river, at the Royal Thai Navy Institute building. The Royal Barge Procession starts at 5.30pm.
The guests then will see an exhibition in honour of the King’s work at the Royal Thai Navy Convention Hall. The presentation on the King and the Development of Thailand has four themes _ land, water, forest and people.
These are the four elements emphasised by the King in his development efforts and through his royally-initiated projects across the country, an official preparing the event said.
Britain’s Prince Andrew was the first royal guest to arrive, landing in Bangkok on Wednesday. He represents Queen Elizabeth, the world’s second-longest reigning monarch, who celebrated her Golden Jubilee in 2002. Most of the royal dignitaries arrived in Thailand yesterday, and the rest are due today.
They come from Bahrain, Belgium, Bhutan, Britain, Brunei, Cambodia, Denmark, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Monaco, Morocco, the Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Qatar, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, Tonga and the United Arab Emirates.
On the eve of today’s grand reception, some royal visitors used the opportunity to see a bit of Thailand.
Wearing yellow attire, the colour for the King’s celebration, Prince Henrik of Denmark, consort of Queen Margrethe II, took a boat trip along the Chao Phraya river.
Princess Lalla Salma Bennani of Morocco and Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg visited Chatuchak market, while in Chiang Mai, Monaco’s Prince Albert went to the Royal Project at Huay Hong Krai in Doi Saket district and also visited Wat Doi Suthep, the temple overlooking the northern city.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/120606_news09.jpg
Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei. —PATTANAPONG HIRUNARD
http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/120606_news10.jpg
Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni. — PATTANAPONG HIRUNARD
http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/120606_news11.jpg
King Syed Sirajuddin of Malaysia. —