Thai King and Queen preside over royal cremation of late Princess

BANGKOK, April 10 (TNA) - Their Majesties King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit presided over the royal cremation of late Her Royal Highness Princess Bejaratana, the only child of His Majesty King Rama VI or King Vajiravudh, at the royal crematorium at Sanam Luang ceremonial ground in Bangkok Monday night. Their Majesties the King and Queen preside over the actual royal cremation of the late Princess at 10pm on Monday, by first setting ablaze the royal sandalwood flowers, or "dok mai jan", before laying them under the royal urn. The actual royal cremation of the late Princess was also attended by Members of the Royal Family. The symbolic royal cremation of late Her Royal Highness Princess Bejaratana was held at 4.30pm, which was also attended by Members of the Royal Family, as well as, diplomatic corps, courtiers, government and military leaders. The general public were also allowed to present their sandalwood flowers to pay their tribute and bid their last farewells to the late revered Princess at three designated spots around Sanam Luang and at designated Buddhist temples across the country. On Monday morning, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn and Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn jointly presided over a royal ceremony, in three processions, to move the royal urn containing the remains of the late Princess from the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall in the Grand Palace to the 218.1-million-baht, 35.59-metre-tall splendid royal crematorium at Sanam Luang, sponsored in design and construction works by the Fine Arts Department and the Department Religious Affairs. Public performances, including Khon, a well-known traditional Thai drama, as well as great shadow plays and puppet shows, were also held on three open-air stages at Sanam Luang from 7pm on Monday through 6am on Tuesday in honour of the late Princess. Two hours after the public performances ended, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn and Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn jointly presided a royal ceremony on behalf of Their Majesties the King and Queen to collect the royal relics and ashes of the late Princess to be transferred to the Grand Palace, adjacent to Sanam Luang, for royal merit-making ceremonies subsequently. The royal relics of the late Princes is scheduled to be placed in the Royal Mausoleum at the Ratchabophit Temple Wednesday; while the royal crematorium at Sanam Luang will be opened for public reviews from April 11-17. Her Royal Highness Princess Bejaratana, the only daughter of His Majesty King Rama VI, passed away peacefully on July 27, 2011 at the age of 85. (TNA)