Mourners from across the country are flocking to the Grand Palace today for a chance to pay their final respects to the late Queen Mother, who passed away last Friday night in Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital.
The Grand Palace is open, from today, between 8.30am and 4pm for the mourners to pay their respects before a portrait of the late Queen Mother in the Sahathai Samakhom Pavilion in the Grand Palace.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has set up a spacious shelter for mourners at Sanam Luang, where they can wait their turn to enter the Grand Palace. They are required to go through a security screening process and to wear appropriate black or white clothing.
Free car parking is available at Sommanas Voravihara Temple, Makut Kasattriyaram Temple, behind Ramathibodi Hospital and on Nakhon Pathom and Look Luang roads.
Free shuttle bus services are available from the Blue Line electric train stations at Tha Phra, Sanam Chai and Som Yod and from Green Line stations at Siam and Wongwian Yai.
Meanwhile, the Education Ministry has clarified that the government’s appeal for the public’s cooperation, by not to holding entertainment activities during the one-year mourning period, does not apply to sports events or extra-curricular activities held by schools or other educational institutes.
Education Permanent Secretary Suthep Kaengsanthia said, however, that the sports and extra-curricular activities should be “discreet” during the mourning period.
He said that a number of school administrators and parents are confused by the government’s order about what can be and cannot be done, hence the clarification.
He explained that parties, celebrations and concerts, should not be held on campus during the mourning period.
