There were long lones of black-clad people at the Grand Palace yesterday, as mourners waited for their turn to pay tribute to HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana before her body at the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall.
 
The hall was open to the public between 9am and 4pm.

Many mourners lingered until nightfall, as the Royal Household Bureau also allowed the public to attend praying ceremonies between 6pm and 10pm.

The Princess passed away at the age of 84 on January 2.

As the beloved sister of His Majesty the King and a great contributor to the nation, her passing has left the whole country in mourning.

Mourners started arriving at the Grand Palace long before 9am. By 8.15 am, huge crowds were already there. Among them was a 93-year-old woman from Nonthaburi.

"I am grateful for the Princess's gracious contributions to society. From TV, I have seen how she worked really hard for people," Pring Sengcharoen said.

Ted Spring, a Swedish student on an exchange programme, came to pay his respects to the Princess too. "Like Thais, I feel deep sorrow for her passing," the 18-year-old said.

Famous nun Sansanee Sthirasuta also came to pay her respects. "She passed away, but she has remained in the hearts of all Thais because she has done so many good deeds." She added the Princess taught Thais about working for other people.

Sumontha Tantirattana-pong, a nurse from Phetcha-buri, recalled how the Princess reached out to people in remote areas with heartfelt care.

"She was down to earth and smiled all the time. She cared for the well-being of people," Sumontha said as she joined some 30 members of a Thai Songdam ethnic group on a trip to pay tribute to the beloved Princess.

Some 200 children from theFoundation for Slum Child Care under the Princess's patronage also showed up. Aside from paying their tributes to the Princess at the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall, the children also sang a song the foundation composed especially for the Princess.

Pol Maj-General Suwira Songmetta, deputy-commissioner of the Police Education Bureau, said all 161 participants in training courses for the superintendent Class 60 would attend Dharma-practice camp for four days in Ratchaburi in dedication to the Princess.