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Published on January 16, 2008

Meanwhile, PM's Office Minister Khunying Dhipavadee Meksawan said yesterday's Cabinet meeting decided not to rule on extending to 100 days the period for civil servants to wear black and white as part of the mourning for the Princess. Instead they would be encouraged to do so on a voluntary basis.

Officials from the Bureau of the Royal Household and Royal Thai Air Force set up the tents in front of Sahathai Samakhom Pavilion, Sala Lukkhun Pavilion and Wiset Chaisri Gate at the Grand Palace.

Her Majesty said she was concerned for the mourners, many of whom had been waiting outside in the hot sun since early morning to pay tribute to the late Princess. She also instructed officials to lay mats on the floor so that people could sit and wait.

Japanese Embassy adviser Shiwataro Omura and second secretary Maki Tawamura laid a wreath on behalf of the Emperor and Empress of Japan and another wreath from the Japanese Embassy at the hall at 2.30pm.

King Herald V and Queen Sonja of Norway and King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud also sent condolence messages yesterday, Thani Thongphakdi, deputy director-general of the Foreign Ministry's Information Department, said.

Peruvian President Alan Garcia, the Grand Imam of Egypt's Al-Azhar Mosque, Muhammad Sayid Tantawy, and British Columbia's Premier Gordon Campbell also sent messages, he said.

Mourners - many arriving as early as 5am yesterday - continued to pay their respects to the Princess.

Following the food offering to eight monks reciting the Abidhamma, the first group to pay tribute at 9am comprised villagers from Surat Thani's Vibhavadi district. They had rented vans in their home town and left to travel to Bangkok at 2am.

One member, Amolsri Sriwong, said she considered it a great honour to pay tribute to the Princess and join the Abhidhamma recital ceremony inside the Grand Palace.

Nang Worasen, 96, from Khon Kaen, said she was proud to pay respect to the Princess, who had worked hard for the Thai people.

Other groups came from PTT Plc, the Khon Kaen Red Cross Society and Bangkok's Rajini School, who brought with them first-aid kits to treat fellow students and others.

Pakavadi Dhippayom, from the foundation for the promotion of science teaching for the academic Olympics under the patronage of HRH Princess Galyani, led a group of Thai students participating in the Olympics and students of Suankularb Wittayalai School to pay their respects.

Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin said 42,600 people had signed the condolence book at the city's exhibition to honour the Princess at City Hall and about 23,000 had received the city-published memorial books.

However, some people had used the opportunity to visit repeatedly to get the books so that they could sell them at Bt170 to Bt200 apiece. Apirak said city officials would investigate, while citizens could alert officials when they saw the opportunists selling the books.

The Nation