Bike tribute to queen in Thailand

The Crown Prince and his daughter Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha led the parade along the 43-kilometer long route from the Royal Plaza through Bangkok streets to the 11 Infantry Regiment in Bang khen.

But it is the rare appearance at such a high-profile public event by the 63-year-old crown prince which will be noted by royal-watchers, our correspondent says. Among the riders were the prime minister, his cabinet, celebrities and other VIPs.

The country’s revered monarch, the 87-year-old King Bhumibol Adulyadej, and his wife, Queen Sirikit, are both in frail health and not seen in public life anymore.

Organisers were also seeking to break a world record for the most number of cyclists at an event – the record is held by Taiwan at 72, 919 participants.

The Associated Press said, “Sunday’s bike ride was an apparent effort to rehabilitate the image of the crown prince, who is usually seen at formal events and rarely mingles with the public”.

“It’s him! It’s him!” shouted an onlooker at the city’s Victory Monument, as the prince pedalled past.

In Buddhist tradition, blue represents Friday, the day of the week Sirikit was born.

Sunday’s event took place a few days after the queen’s birthday on 12 August, which is also a national holiday and celebrated as Mother’s Day in Thailand.

But it was also billed as a chance to promote unity among Thais 15 months after a coup swept away the civilian government- the latest episode in a seemingly endless succession of elections and coups.

According to Guinness World Records, participants had to follow the rules to be counted, meaning they had to leave the starting point at the same time nationwide and had to bike continuously for a minimum of four kilometres.