Jun 12, 2006, 14:05 GMT
Bangkok - Royalty from around the globe gathered in Bangkok on Monday to honour Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej, 78, by joining celebrations marking his 60th year on the throne, the highlight of which was a centuries-old Royal Barge Procession staged on the Chao Phrya River.
Visiting royals from 25 countries, including 13 monarchs, 4 royal consorts, six crown princes and two royal representatives, on Monday first gathered at the ornate Ananta Throne Hall in Bangkok to deliver their best wishes to the Thai King, his royal consort Queen Sirikit and the royal family.
'As we celebrate this anniversary, it is not the length but the accomplishments that is the true legacy of your majesty's reign,' said Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is a speech made before the visiting royalty and King Bhumibol.
Thaksin praised the king's well-known accomplishments in rural development and his 'unifying role that has enabled Thailand to move forward over the past 60 years.'
Responding to the prime minister's speech, King Bhumibol said, 'National development is not the duty of one person but of everyone, it is the responsibility of every Thai.'
King Bhumibol's role as the world's 'Development King' had already been acknowledged by the international community last month when United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan presented the monarch with its inaugural lifetime achievement award in rural development.
King Bhumibol ascended the Thai throne on June 9, 1946, following the sudden death of his elder brother King Ananda.
Hundreds of thousands of Thais paid tribute to the beloved monarch on Friday by gathering outside the Ananta Throne Hall to catch a glimpse of the king who made a balcony appearance to address the nation on the importance of national unity.
Thailand, a constitutional monarchy where the king is head of state, has held celebrations in the past to mark King Bhumibol's Silver and Golden jubilees on the throne but only on the 60th anniversary did the government invite world monarchs to attend the event.
The government expressed delight that royals from 25 countries agreed to attend official celebrations on Monday and Tuesday.
Britain's Duke of York, Prince Andrew, was the first royal to arrive in Bangkok last Wednesday.
Most of the royal visitors started arriving over the weekend when there was a succession of red-carpet arrivals at Bangkok international airport from Bahrain, Belgium, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, Denmark, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Monaco, Morocco, the Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Qatar, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, Tonga and the United Arab Emirates.
Monday's highlight was be a re-enactment of the Royal Barge Procession, an ancient ceremony used for royal events dating back to the Ayutthaya era.
The procession, which was witnessed by the visiting royals at the Navy Convention Centre, included 52 ornately carved barges manned by 2,082 oarsmen, travelling in stately fashion down the Chao Phrya River which circumvents Bangkok.
The barge procession, accompanied by the plaintive chant of the chief singer, was carried off without a hitch and without a downpour. Thailand has now entered the rainy season and evening downpours are the norm.
King Bhumibol is the ninth monarch in the Chakri dynasty that founded Bangkok as its capital in 1782.
On Tuesday, King Bhumibol and Queen Sirikit will host a banquet for the visiting royals.
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