In February 1972, accompanied by their daughter, HRH The Princess Anne, HM The Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, paid a State Visit to TM The King and Queen of Thailand. The State Visit lasted 5 days, between the 10th and the 15th February and brought media attention for the attendance of Princess Anne and also the renowned beauty and elegance of Queen Sirikit.

Thai splendour: elephants and people kneel for HM Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland as she is welcomed in the Kingdom of Thailand by HM King Rama IX, better known as King Bhumibol, and guided under the traditional umbrellas of the Kingdom of Siam.

On the left, HM Queen Elizabeth and HM Queen Sirikit and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh talk to officials as Princess Anne leaves the car on the welcoming ceremony of the State Visit to Thailand. The Prince Philip wears white uniform and the sash and star of the Most Noble Order of the Garter. On the right a close picture of Princess Anne, who wears a diamond brooch on her blue outfit.

Above, flowers and laid on the carpet before HM Queen Sirikit and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh as they walk in the official welcoming ceremony in Bangkok. Below, HM King Bhumibol and HM Queen Elizabeth review the guard of honour and listen to the National Anthems of the two Kingdoms. HM The King of Thailand wears uniform and the sash of The Most Illustrious Order of the Royal House of Chakri, which is worn from the left shoulder. Queen Elizabeth wears the elegant and impressive diamond and pearl Duchess of Teck’s Corsage Brooch, which she received as a wedding present from HM Queen Mary in 1947.

The State Banquet in the Royal Palace of Bangkok: above the British royals are welcomed by King Bhumibol and Princess Anne makes an elegant curtsey to the King of Thailand. Below, members of the two royal families wait in line to receive compliments of the guests to the glittering event.

In front of the Throne of Siam, the table in set in splendour as HM Queen Elizabeth II makes her speech and raises her glass to her host, King Rama IX.

Queen Elizabeth wore a white and gold dress to the State Banquet in Bangkok and wore some fabulous jewels to go with it. The Queen wore her most impressive tiara, the Russian Diamond Kokoshnik, the diamond necklace presented to her by King Faisal of Saudi Arabia and diamond earrings. Holding her sash was Queen Mary’s True Lover’s Knot Brooch in diamonds, inherited from Queen Mary in 1953, and on the left shoulder are the Family Orders of King George V and King George VI set in diamonds. Around her neck, Her Majesty wore the Collar and the sash of the The Most Illustrious Order of the Royal House of Chakri, though the sash was wrongfully worn from the right shoulder.

Getting much of the attention on the evening, HM Queen Sirikit appears in splendour in a golden dress and covered in diamonds. Her Majesty wore the large Thai Diamond Fringe Tiara, along with an impressive diamond necklace and a splendid diamond belt. Queen Sirikit wore, as did King Bhumibol, the sash of The Most Illustrious Order of the Royal House of Chakri, established in 1882 by King Rama V to commemorate the Bangkok Centennial and a remembrance of King Rama I of the Chakri Dynasty. The Order has been presented to the direct descendants of King Rama I and their spouses. HRH Princess Anne wore the elegant Diamond Scroll Tiara.

[Thanks to Volker for all the pictures that feature in this page.]

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