Bangkok: People lined both sides of the road, waiting to receive the funeral procession of Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendira Debyavadi, Krom Luang Rajasarinisiripatchara Mahavajrarajathida. Throughout the afternoon, the atmosphere around Chulalongkorn Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society, remained somber as people continued to arrive and occupy spaces on both sides of the exit to Henri Dunant Road, awaiting the royal funeral procession.
According to Thai News Agency, officials have laid out over 500 mats on both sides of the sidewalks along the entire route the procession will take, from within the hospital to the exit on Henri Dunant Road and then turning left onto Rama IV Road, to facilitate the public paying their respects. Meanwhile, food, drinks, and inhalers are being provided to those waiting for extended periods.
Among those who arrived early in the morning was Mrs. Sutin Premjai, 77 years old. When speaking about her feelings towards Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha, she couldn't hold back her tears. She explained that she had followed the Princess's royal activities closely and had the opportunity to meet her at the National Theatre, where she was deeply impressed by the Princess's kindness and approachability to the people. She said she had come specifically to bid farewell to the Princess for the last time, acknowledging the heat and the possibility of rain, as she wanted to watch the funeral procession. Even just seeing the royal carriage pass by would fill her with immense joy. She admitted that after this, she could only cherish the memories and look at the Princess's portraits to ease her longing.
Mr. Pichai Jongsuwatana, a volunteer who was distributing drinking water, inhalers, and collecting trash from people waiting to see the royal funeral procession, revealed that his volunteer work began when he participated in activities with the Friends in Need (of Thailand) Foundation, Thai Red Cross Society, in 2019. He helped prepare relief bags for disaster victims. During that time, he had the opportunity to greet Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha as she personally oversaw the operations. Although Her Royal Highness did not speak directly to the volunteers that day, her smile and kindness towards everyone involved filled him with joy and inspired him to continue his volunteer work to this day. He affirmed that Her Royal Highness's grace and compassion will forever remain in the memories of the Thai people.