The Permanent Secretary of the Interior led a meeting to prepare for the regional public sandalwood flower offering ceremonies for the royal cremation of "The Queen Mother," urging governors and district chiefs nationwide to conduct the ceremonies with due honor and dignity.
On 16 September 2026, at 09:30 GMT+7, Mr. Arsith Sampanarat, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, presided over a rehearsal meeting on the procedures for organizing the sandalwood flower offering ceremonies for the public in the regions, as part of the royal cremation ceremonies for Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, The Queen Mother. Attending were Mr. Pongnara Yenying, Director-General of the Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning, along with department executives, state enterprise officials under the Ministry of Interior, representatives from the Office of the Permanent Secretary to the Prime Minister, the National Office of Buddhism, and related officials via Video Conference System (VCS) and DOPA Channel, together with provincial governors, deputy governors, heads of provincial offices, district chiefs, and executives of local administrative organizations from all 76 provinces.
Mr. Arsith stated that today's meeting followed directives from Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul, stemming from the first 2026 meeting of the Royal Cremation Ceremony Organizing Committee for Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, The Queen Mother, held on 21 March 2026. The meeting was graciously chaired in person by Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. The committee assigned the Ministry of Interior to oversee the sandalwood flower offering ceremonies for the public in the regions, ensuring proper and dignified conduct.
The Permanent Secretary emphasized that organizing the sandalwood flower offering ceremonies for the public in the regions as part of the royal cremation is a vital national duty. He highlighted three key operational principles to collectively honor and remember the royal benevolence:
1. Provincial governors, deputy governors, heads of government agencies, and district chiefs must convene rehearsals with related local agencies to coordinate the sandalwood flower offering ceremonies for residents, ensuring smooth, dignified events with broad public participation to commemorate the royal benevolence.
2. Verify readiness in all aspects, including adequate venue capacity for attendees, comprehensive staffing to assist participants, multi-dimensional security arrangements, and facilitation of travel for people in remote areas.
3. Publicize ceremony details—dates, times, and locations—through all communication channels to ensure the public is well informed and prepared to participate, as well as to document this historic event as part of the province’s and nation’s archives.
All provinces and districts must conduct the ceremonies with propriety, dignity, and honor. They are also encouraged to involve partners from private and civil sectors in all activities to jointly express loyalty and remembrance of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, The Queen Mother’s royal benevolence. For further procedural inquiries, provinces and districts should contact the Central Office of the Ministry of Interior, which will consult with the Office of the Permanent Secretary to the Prime Minister as needed.