BANGKOK, 10 June 2014 – Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn on June 9 represented His Majesty the King in laying royal wreaths at the statue of King Rama VIII, located in Chulalongkorn Hospital of the Thai Red Cross Society in Phaya Thai District, on the occasion of the Ananta Mahidol Day.
The Ananta Mahidol Day is observed every year on June 9 to commemorate the benevolence of King Rama VIII, or King Ananta Mahidol, who founded the Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, with a kind intention to save people from sickness. The King died on June 9, 1946.
This year, Chulalongkorn University held several activities to mark the occasion including religious merit-making ceremony, quizzes on biology and medical science and the issuance of commemorative badges to raise funds for the Ananta Mahidol Foundation. Her Royal Highness on this occasion presented the 2014 Ananta Mahidol Day pins to those who donated money to the Ananta Mahidol Foundation.
Later in the evening Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn proceeded to Suthat Monastery, where she officiated on behalf of His Majesty the King at a religious function dedicated to King Rama VIII, on the occasion of his demise.
As the royal ash of King Rama VIII has been enshrined at the front of Phra Srisakayamuni, the principal Buddha image of Wat Suthat, His Majesty the King has commanded that a merit making ceremony be held on June 9 at the temple every year to mark the death of King Rama VIII, his elder brother king.
On this occasion, Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn also presented proceeds raised by the King Rama VIII Foundation to the monastery for use in its restoration. The Foundation, officially known as Atthamarajanusorn Foundation, was established by His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej in 1975 with the royal personal fund in memory of his elder brother king. The foundation has as its objective to raise funds for the restoration of the temple and for the educational development of monks and novices.
Her Royal Highness also presented public donations raised through the traditional ‘Pha Pa’ campaign to the temple, and laid royal wreaths of Their Majesties the King and Queen at the statue of King Rama VIII located in the monastery.
Thereafter, Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn went to Amarindravinitchai Throne Hall in the Grand Palace where the Princess deputized for His Majesty the King at a merit making ceremony dedicated to King Rama VIII, as well as the late Prince Father and Princess Mother.
King Rama VIII was born on September 20, 1925 and was crowned in 1934 when he was only 9 years old. The King stayed on the throne for 12 years before passing away on June 9, 1946.
