Sweden will hold a special ceremony to honour His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej on 26 October 2017, which is the Royal Cremation Day.
H.M. King Bhumibol Adulyadej had received the Knight of the Swedish Royal Order of the Seraphim. The organizing of this special ceremony is Sweden’s traditional practice after a Knight of the Order passes away, as this royal decoration is the foremost honour in Sweden.
In this ceremony, the Royal Honour Guard of Sweden, in a parade, will take the late Thai King’s coat of arms from the Stockholm Palace to be enshrined at a church where bodies of Swedish royals were buried.
Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha said that the ceremony would indicate the close relations between Thailand and Sweden and between the peoples of the two countries. He said that H.M. King Bhumibol Adulyadej made Thailand better known and recognized internationally.
In the earlier years of his reign, His Majesty paid state visits to more than 30 countries. He frequently received and entertained visiting monarchs and heads of state. By meeting with nearly all the leaders of the contemporary world, he kept abreast of current international affairs.
In 2006, the auspicious occasion of His Majesty the King’s 60th anniversary of his accession to the throne was celebrated on a grand scale. One of the highlights was the presence of reigning monarchs and royal representatives from 25 of the contemporary world’s 28 monarchies.
They joined the celebrations as a congratulatory tribute to Bhumibol Adulyadej’s dedication, foresight, and wisdom, reflected in Thailand’s economic growth, the wellbeing of its people, and the security of the nation.
The Order of the Seraphim, or the Order of His Majesty The King of Sweden, is the most outstanding distinction in Sweden, and was given to Thailand’s King in 1950.
Source: Embassy of Sweden in Bangkok; Foreign Office, The Government Public Relations Department, Office of the Prime Minister
