Thousands bid farewell to Thai Princess Bajrakitiyabha

It was not easy for us to say goodbye," said English teacher Donnapha Kladbupha, 54, who was present on the streets of Bangkok today to bid farewell to Princess Bajrakitiyabha.

Princess Bajrakitiyabha, the eldest daughter of King Maha Vajiralongkorn, passed away on June 11 at Chulalongkorn Hospital in Bangkok after more than three years in a coma due to a stroke.

Thousands of people dressed in black, mostly elderly, sat under the scorching heat along the approximately 10 km route from Chulalongkorn Hospital to the royal palace. Many others lined up to perform the Buddhist ritual of pouring sacred water into bowls placed before the princess's portrait.

"I am very sad that the princess passed away, especially when looking back at her childhood photos. When the princess fell ill, I prayed to the Buddha to protect her and hoped for a miracle," said Nitikan Tephakham, 79, from Roi Et province in northeastern Thailand.

Police blocked many 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 death in October 2016.

"The princess was famous for her contributions and was greatly loved by the Thai people, so I feel extremely sad," said Pongsanguan Paranan, 63.

The entire ceremony was conducted under strict security control and rigid ceremonial regulations. Attendees wore formal attire, media access was restricted, and dozens of police officers were on duty.

Even tourists at the royal palace complex, one of Bangkok's most famous attractions, had to change their travel plans. "It's special that someone can be so loved," said Maria Marcais, a 22-year-old tourist from Canada.

Around 5 p.m., the princess's coffin was brought to the royal palace for lying in state, accompanied by a solemn and orderly procession. The Thai government has not yet announced details of the funeral, but has requested state agencies to wear black and fly flags at half-mast for 15 days.

Born on December 7, 1978, Princess Bajrakitiyabha was the eldest of King Maha Vajiralongkorn's seven children. She is his only child with his first wife, Princess Soamsawali.

She trained in law, earning two postgraduate degrees from Cornell University in the United States. After a brief stint with the Thai mission to the United Nations in New York, she returned to Thailand to work at the Office of the Attorney General in Bangkok and several other provinces.

From 2012 to 2014, Bajrakitiyabha served as the Thai Ambassador to Austria. During this period, she built cooperative relations with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and promoted prison system reforms, with a particular focus on the conditions of female inmates.

After returning to Thailand, she became the UNODC Goodwill Ambassador for the Rule of Law in Southeast Asia and continued to advocate for criminal justice system reform. In 2021, King Vajiralongkorn appointed her commander of his personal guard, with the rank of general.

In addition to her government career, the princess was also known as a sports enthusiast, often participating in long-distance running events.