"It's not easy for us to say goodbye," said Donnapha Kladbupha, a 54-year-old English teacher present on Bangkok's streets today to bid farewell to Princess Bajrakitiyabha.
Princess Bajrakitiyabha, the eldest daughter of King Maha Vajiralongkorn, passed away on 11/6 at Chulalongkorn Hospital in Bangkok after more than three years in a coma following a stroke.
Thousands, mostly elderly, sat in the humid weather along the approximately 10 km route from Chulalongkorn Hospital to the royal palace. Others queued to perform a Buddhist ritual, pouring sacred water into a bowl placed before the princess's portrait.
The motorcade carrying Princess Bajrakitiyabha's coffin from the hospital to the royal palace in Bangkok on 13/6. *Video: Imperial Material*
"I am saddened by the princess's passing, especially looking back at her childhood photos. When she fell ill, I prayed to the Buddhas to protect her and hoped for a miracle," said Nitikan Tephakham, 79, from Roi Et province in northeast Thailand.
Police blocked several roads for the royal procession, led by King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida. Thai PBS television reported that the princess's remains were transported in the same vehicle that carried the coffin of the late King Bhumibol after his passing in 10/2016.
"The princess was known for her contributions and was deeply beloved by the Thai people, so I feel immense sorrow," said Pongsanguan Paranan, 63.
The entire ceremony proceeded under strict security and ceremonial regulations. Attendees wore formal attire, media access was restricted, and dozens of police officers were on duty.
Even tourists at the Grand Palace grounds, one of Bangkok's most famous attractions, had to alter their travel plans. "It's remarkable how one person can be so loved," said Maria Marcais, a 22-year-old tourist from Canada.
Around 17h, the princess's coffin arrived at the royal palace for repose, escorted by a solemn and orderly procession. The Thai government has not yet announced funeral details but has requested state agencies wear black and fly flags at half-mast for 15 days.
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Many people wept as the motorcade carrying Princess Bajrakitiyabha's coffin passed through Bangkok's streets on 13/6. *Photo: AFP*
Born on 7/12/1978, Princess Bajrakitiyabha was the eldest of King Maha Vajiralongkorn's seven children. She was his only child with his first wife, Princess Soamsawali.
She trained in law, earning two postgraduate degrees from Cornell University in the US. After a brief stint with Thailand's mission to the United Nations in New York, she returned to work at the Office of the Attorney General in Bangkok and other localities.
From 2012 to 2014, Bajrakitiyabha served as Thailand's Ambassador to Austria. During this period, she fostered cooperation with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and promoted prison system reforms, with particular attention to the conditions of female inmates.
Upon returning to Thailand, she became UNODC's Goodwill Ambassador for the Rule of Law in Southeast Asia and continued advocating for criminal justice system reform. In 2021, King Vajiralongkorn appointed her commander of his personal guard, holding the rank of general.
Beyond her government career, the princess was also known as a sports enthusiast, frequently participating in long-distance runs.
By Huyen Le (According to AFP)
