On 29 November 2014, Mr. Pichit Boonsud, Chargé d’Affaires, a.i., the Royal Thai Embassy in Stockholm, led the Embassy’s officials and staffs, members of Team Thailand and Thai communities in Sweden, to pay homage to His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand on the occasion of His 87h Birthday Anniversary on 5 December 2014. There were more than 400 people from Stockholm and nearby areas attending a candle-lit ceremony at Hallunda Folkets Hus, Stockholm, which was followed  by cultural performances that the Thai communities in Sweden arranged to pay tribute to His Majesty the King. Those who attended the event also had an opportunity to extend their blessings to His Majesty the King in a well-wishers’ book, to be sent to Thailand afterwards.  

 

            Later, on 5 December 2014, the Royal Thai Embassy in Sweden hosted a reception on the occasion of His Majesty the King’s Birthday and the National Day of Thailand at Sheraton Hotel in Stockholm. Over 200 Swedish dignitaries from both government and private sector, as well as Heads of foreign diplomatic missions to Sweden attended the event such as Mrs. Eva-Louise Erlandsson Slorach, President of the Stockholm City Council, H.E. Mrs. Caroline Vicini, Chief of Protocol, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Sweden, and Mr. Michael Koch, Director, Head of International Cooperation Office, National Board of Trade of Sweden. Mr. Pichit delivered his remarks in praise of His Majesty’s devotion to the improvement of welfare and livlihood of the Thai people as shown by thousands of royal development projects. He then highlighted that the 68th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in 2013 designated 5th December- His Majesty’s Birthday - as World Soil Day in honour of His Majesty’s work for the promotion of soil science and for raising awareness of the importance of sustainable soil management worldwide. Furthermore, the United Nations also delcared 2015 as the International Year of Soils. In the end, Mr. Pichit proposed a toast to humbly wish Their Majesties the Kings and Queens of Thailand and Sweden every blessing.