His Majesty the King will appear on the balcony of the Chakri Maha Prasat Throne Hall within the Grand Palace in a grand public audience on Monday, 5 December 2011, at 10:30 a.m., as part of the celebrations of His Majesty’s 84th birthday.
7:30 a.m. Before the grand public audience, a procession will be formed at 7:30 a.m. to bring the golden, silver, and gold-silver and copper alloy water jugs containing consecrated water to be presented to His Majesty. The water, which was drawn and consecrated at significant sites in all provinces, will be transported from Wat Phra Chetuphon, or Wat Pho, to the front of the Chakri Throne Maha Prasat Throne Hall.
10 a.m. His Majesty will proceed to the Chakri Maha Prasat Throne Hall, in a motorcade, from Siriraj Hospital, where he has stayed since September 2009. The grand public audience affords an opportunity for members of the Royal Family, the royal entourage, the Privy Council, the Cabinet, the National Assembly, the diplomatic corps, government officials, and the general public to attend. On this occasion, 480 royal guards will participate in the ceremony of taking the oath of allegiance.
10:30 a.m. Their Majesties the King and Queen will appear at the open balcony of the Chakri Maha Prasat Throne Hall. His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, the Prime Minister, the President of the National Assembly, and the President of the Supreme Court, respectively, offer felicitations to His Majesty. His Majesty the King then makes a royal address in response and takes leave. The whole event will be carried live on Television Pool of Thailand, with television screens set up at significant junctures and streets to bring the event to the general public as extensively as possible.
6 p.m. to 8 p.m. There will be a mass candlelight ceremony on Sanam Luang presided over by the prime minister. We don’t have full details but we understand it will be live on TV from 6 p.m. The prime minister will be paying tribute herself at 7:29 p.m. After the singing of songs, the ceremony will end with fireworks. This same event will be mirrored around the country at exactly the same time.
6 p.m. to midnight As part of the celebrations, the Bureau of the Royal Household will also open an opportunity for the public to enter the Grand Palace and appreciate the beauty of the palace at night time, 6:00 p.m. to midnight, between December 5 and 9.
7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m. The general public will also be provided with a variety of celebrative performances free of charge at Sanam Luang and surrounding areas, from December 3 to 9. According to the Special Advisor to the Bureau of the Royal Household, Mr. Ratanavudh Vajarodaya, the Bureau of the Royal Household and the Government are joining hands in organizing a light and sound and multimedia presentation on a large stage at Sanam Luang, with more than 150 performers. This performance is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. each night during the seven days of celebrations. [UPDATE 5 Dec: We just heard that the performance has now been cancelled]
7:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. Another special show is the film “84 Years of the Prosperity of Rattanakosin,” projected in the form of panoramic multimedia on the 200-meter wall of the Grand Palace on Na Phra Lan Road. The film runs for 20 minutes and will be repeated from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. [UPDATE 5 Dec: We have just heard that today will be the last chance to see the multimedia show]
Note: We will update this page as and when we receive more information.
Source: Public Relations Department of the Royal Thai Government
Anyone else going? I was thinking of making the trip there to shoot pictures of the King.
Has anyone else done this before? What “long-lens” did you use?
And how far away from the Balcony?
Thanks
You won’t be able to go in and see him on the balcony. It is restricted access. If you have a camera you need to be wearing a jacket and have a Thai press card. Outside your only chance is to take a picture of him in the car as he passes. But, in many cases, they stop memebrs of the public taking pictures of royalty. There are strict rules of what you can and cannot take pictures of regarding royal activities.
Did not know that… anyway, I did not wake up in time to make the trip to Sanam Luang this morning, and watched it on TV instead. Still, thanks for the heads-up.
Cheers Bro
I know what you mean. I should have gone but was too lazy and just watched on TV. I’m actually going this evening which is a first for me. I normally hate big events like this with the crowds. But, the Grand Palace is open at night for the first time so I wanted to take advantage of that. Plus I am bored with keep taking pictures at the candlelight ceremony every year here in Samut Prakan.
Hahahaha… 17 years’ worth of Candle-light Ceremonies at Samut Prakan must get “old”…. ROTFL
Well, if you are up to it, then sneak up behind the HUGE speakers, and wait near ramp where the actors get on and off the stage. It gets interesting when the horse-cart exits stage left..
That angle gives you very much more interesting shots. Oh and cover your ears when the fireworks go off from the roof, circa 20feet away.
Cheers