HRH Prince Henrik Celebrated Birthday in Bangkok

The Danes in Bangkok celebrated the birthday of HRH Prince Henrik on 11 June with a reception hosted by HE Ambassador and Mrs. Ulrik Helweg-Larsen at their residence at the Royal Danish Embassy.

By Mogens Rasmussen
Photos Gregers Moller

HRH Prince Henrik was celebrated with a reception on his 72 year birthday on June 11, 2006 at the Royal Danish Embassy. HRH was in Bangkok as the representative of the Danish Royal Family on the occassion of the celebrations of the 60th Year Anniversary of HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej's accesion to the Throne.
HM Queen Margrethe could not participate in the celebrations due to a recent operation of Her Majesty's knee.
"She is in good spirit, but it will take some time before she is fully recovered," said Prince Henrik about the condition of HM The Queen. Her knee will need months of physiotherapy and possibly other treatments before Her Majesty is back in shape.
"In the meantime, the Crown Prince will take over some of Her duties," Prince Henrik added.
HRH Prince Henrik was received on Sunday upon his arrival by HRH Prinecess Sirindhorn. In the evening, a selection of the Danish community was invited for an informal reception at the Royal Danish Embassy. 
While the Danes were all dressed in lounge suit, HRH himself appeared relaxed in a dark T-shirt designed by himself and created by his tailor in Bangkok.
Somewhat surprised, HRH received a few gifts from some of the guests and flustered an order to his discreet security assistants to stay near him.
A pleasant surprise was, however, a birthday cake from Khun Wanna Anant Laasholdt of the Admiral Pub and Restaurant, which was also in charge of the catering of the evening.
On Monday, the Prince will witness an impressive boat procession on the ChaoPhya river, which has been rehearsed for weeks in honour of HM King Bhumibol.
On Tuesday HRH is scheduled to visit the Danish ECCO shoes factory whose Managing Director Kitti Chaiwattanatorn was also present at the reception on Sunday. A visit to a Thai vineyard will maybe also be part of the visit as well as a few days on Phuket, the favourite Thai holiday destination of HRH The Prince Consort.

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