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Published on January 10, 2008

Heads of state, government leaders and ministers from those countries

sent messages to His Majesty the

King expressing their deepest sorrow, said ministry spokesman Tharit Charungvat.

Queen Elizabeth of the United Kingdom said in a letter to His Majesty the King that she was "saddened to hear of the death of Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana. Her death will be a great loss to the Thai people. I send my deepest sympathy".

King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia of Spain said they were saddened over the passing of the Princess, the elder sister of His Majesty.

The current king of Malaysia, Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin, sent condolences, too.

Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone expressed condolences on behalf of Pope Benedict.

Some 130 Bangkok-based diplomats were invited to a royal religious ceremony to make merit on the seventh day of the passing of the Princess at Dusit Throne Hall, Tharit said.

It is the first time since the death of the Princess that Their Majesty the King and the Queen have extended invitations to foreign diplomats.

Meanwhile, Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn travelled to the Dusit Throne Hall in the Grand Palace for the Buddhist ceremony at 6.56am. She presented food offerings to 8 praying monks.

Many people continue to wear black dress and line up at the Grand Palace to pay their respects to a portrait of Princess Galyani Vadhana, inside the Saha Thai Samakhom Pavilion.

A group of disabled people led by the Council of Disabled People of Thailand's chairman, Prof Viraya Namsiripongpanth, attended the ceremony.

He said the Princess had encouraged many disabled people. She had continued her mother's work to support Srisangwan School, which was set up for disabled children and supported many activities for disabled people included Petanque, promoted caring for disabled children, and promoted work skills for disabled people.

Montient Boontan, head of Thailand's Association of the Blind, said after meeting with the Princess he greatly appreciated her acts of help, intelligence and support for scientific work which inspired disabled people to seek more knowledge and improve their quality of life.

The National Association of the Deaf in Thailand official Charnchai Simapokhai expressed his feelings via

a hand language interpreter, saying

all deaf people were saddened by

the Princess' death because she had

contributed a lot of work for deaf people.

Many other people paid respect to the portrait of the Princess including Prince Chatri Chalermyukul, a group of Bangkok Bank executives, former national runner Rawadee Wattasin, former Thai Rak Thai executive Bhokin Palakul, PM's Office Minister Teerapath Sereerangson, deputy attorney general Thavorn Panichpan, a group of students from Wattanawittayalai School, 150 students from Yooyenwittaya and a group of students from Suphan Buri's Wat Lardprathumthong School.

 Supalak G Khundee,

 Pongphon Sarnsamak

 The Nation