Bangkok: The Royal Thai Armed Forces are set to conduct a grand parade and oath-taking ceremony for the Royal Guards for the first time in 16 years. This significant event, scheduled for December 3, 2024, will be held in honor of His Majesty the King, the supreme commander of the Thai Armed Forces. Maj. Gen. Witai Laithomya, the spokesman for the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters, emphasized the dedication and commitment of the armed forces to ensuring the success of this monumental occasion.
According to Thai News Agency, the supreme commander, General Songwit Noonpakdee, has urged all branches of the armed forces to work diligently to organize the parade and oath-taking ceremony, officially named ‘Rajawallop Terdthai Chom Ratchan 72 Pansa Maha Mongkol’. The event aims to showcase the unity of the armed forces and pay the highest respect to His Majesty the King. In preparation for the ceremony, the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters produced 13 short documentaries approved by His Majesty the King, high
lighting the history and significance of the Royal Guards.
This event marks the first parade during the reign of King Rama X and includes both the Royal Guards and the Royal Guards. The documentaries provide a narrative from the past to the present, with the last parade held in 2008. The public is invited to watch the ceremony through a special television broadcast, as the ceremony venue within the Royal Palace has limited space for attendees. Approximately 4,000 people can be accommodated along Ratchadamnoen Nok Road and Sri Ayutthaya Road.
The ceremony is scheduled to commence at 2:00 PM with the opening of Dusit Palace grounds for honored guests and ambassadors. Pre-show performances by the Army, Navy, and Air Force will begin at 3:00 PM, featuring traditional and modern demonstrations. Her Majesty the Queen will oversee the combined forces, while His Majesty the King will lead the oath-taking ceremony, culminating in a display by 2,000 drones at Wat Benchamabophit.
A total of 11 battalions will partici
pate in the parade, with regiments organized from various Royal Guards and military units. The Royal Guard Cavalry Regiment, led by General Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana Rajakanya, will also be part of the ceremony, which promises to be a historic and memorable event broadcast live worldwide.