Her Royal Highness Princess
Maha Chakri Sirindhorn on 16 September 2013 presided over the opening ceremony
for the exhibition titled “120th Anniversary World’s Columbian Exposition:
Siam: The Queen and the White City” at the Chicago History Museum.
The exhibition is one of
the activities to commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the Birth of the Late
Queen Sri Savarindira, the grandmother to His Majesty King Bhumibol.
On hand to greet Her Royal
Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn were Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign
Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul, Culture Minister Sontaya Kunplome, the Thai
Ambassador to the United States of America, and the Thai Consul-General to
Chicago.
This is the second time the
exhibition is being held following its inauguration in Paris in November 2012.
The exhibition highlights
Queen Sri Savarindira’s life and work, as well as showcases elements of Thai
court culture, including embroidery, garland making, and cuisine. King
Bhumibol’s ceremonial robes are also being put on display for the first time
outside Thailand.
The ceremony was attended
by the diplomatic corps in the United States, senior officials, and the general
public.
During the ceremony, Her
Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn delivered a keynote speech in
honor of the Queen Grandmother and her contributions to Thailand and the Thai
people. Her Royal Highness also played the ra-nad, a traditional
Thai xylophone, and performed traditional songs along with a musical ensemble
from Thailand’s Fine Arts Department.
Her Majesty Queen Sri
Savarindira is recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as one of the world’s great personalities. Also
known as Queen Savang Vadhana, Her Majesty Queen Sri Savarindira was a royal
consort of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V).
(thailand.prd.go.th)