The year 2015 is considered a significant year for Thailand, as it marks the auspicious occasion of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn’s fifth cycle, or 60th, birthday anniversary. As a tribute to the Princess, the Government will hold year-long celebrations from 1 January to 31 December 2015. A group of people will be ordained as monks and novices in a mass ordination program in celebration on 2nd April 2015. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on 3 November 2014 chaired the first meeting of the National Commission on the Celebrations, with the Permanent Secretary of the Prime Minister’s Office as member and secretary.
The meeting acknowledged the title in English for the celebrations: “The Celebrations on the Auspicious Occasion of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn’s 5th Cycle Birthday Anniversary 2nd April 2015.” Various agencies and organizations, as well as the general public, have been invited to display on their offices and houses a purple flag with the ceremonial emblem on the celebrations from 1 January to 31 December 2015. Purple is the colour of Saturday, the birthday of Her Royal Highness. The public will also be invited to wear purple shirts, with the ceremonial emblem, as an expression of love and respect for Her Royal Highness. The Fine Arts Department has been assigned to be responsible for documentation and historical records on this occasion.
Prime Minister Prayut also urged the public to buy commemorative pins on the occasion of the 60th birthday anniversary celebrations. Reservations for the pins can be made at the Office of the Permanent Secretary of the Prime Minister’s Office in Bangkok and at the town halls of all provinces, as well as all branches of Krung Thai Bank. Proceeds from the sale will go to Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Foundation to provide scholarships for needy children and youths.
Her Royal Highness was born on 2 April 1955. She is the third child and second daughter of Their Majesties the King and Queen and is the first of the royal children to attend a local institution of higher learning. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Chulalongkorn University, where she majored in history. Her Royal Highness obtained Master’s degrees from Chulalongkorn University, majoring in PaliSanskrit, and from Silpakorn University, majoring in Oriental Epigraphy. She also holds a doctorate in Development Education from Srinakharinwirot University.
