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Published on January 4, 2008

It is black and white throughout the country, as people don the colours to express sorrow over the death of Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana, who passed away aged 84 early on Wednesday.

Through her royal works, her contributions to society and her gracious behaviour, the elder sister of His Majesty the King commanded love and respect.

Workplaces, restaurants, bus stops, department stores and mass-transit stations were packed with people in black and white.

Colourful New Year decorations have been replaced by black and white.

Thousands headed to specially prepared areas where they could pay tribute to the Princess. Each contained a portrait and books in which people could write messages.

At the Saha Thai Samakhom Pavilion alone, as many as 13,000 people came to pay their respects before a portrait of the Princess. Many of them were moved to tears.

"I was shocked when I heard the news on television," Tipanant Payuwong, 44, of Nonthaburi said tearfully. She was holding a picture of the Princess she took from a magazine when she was four.

"This picture is so important to me. The Princess inspired me to make merit and sacrifice myself for society. I carry this picture with me always wherever I go," Tipanant said.

"I love her so much because she contributed much to society. I used to think that I wanted to be her."

Tipanant admired the Princess and will follow in her footsteps for the good of society. Pakakorn Kraithong, 56, said she would wear black throughout the 100-day mourning period or until the royal cremation.

"I have worked devotedly as a health volunteer and a volunteer for the Social Development and Human Security Ministry because of the Princess. Her work with orphans and destitute children in the rural provinces has inspired me," she said.

Nualtip Kerdkrajang, 79, earns money for herself and her paralysed child by folding paper into bags. "When I earned enough, I spent it on bus fares to go to Siriraj Hospital to express my support for the Princess," she said.

Upon learning of the Princess's death, she rushed to the Saha Thai Samakhom Pavilion.

Prom Senawong, 90, travelled from Northeast province Roi Et to pay her tributes to the Princess.

"I love and respect her a lot. I can't just sit at home and remember her from there. I really want to be here," she said.

Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn has asked the Royal Household Bureau to care for those paying respects to her aunt.

"Royal doctors are on standby," bureau official Supachai Pantupanan said.

Meanwhile, Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin announced the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration would remove entertainment from its National Children's Day celebrations.

"We will focus on knowledge-promotion activities instead and hand out scholarships," he said.

This year, National Children's Day falls on January 12. The Education Ministry announced events for the day would now exclude all performances such as dances.

"We will include exhibitions in honour of the Princess and will ask children and parents at our events to pay tribute to the Princess, too," permanent secretary Charuaypon Torranin said. She will advise provincial governors of the ministry guidelines for the day.

The Nation