Phuket NEWS:

Wednesday, February 16, 2005

Swedish royals to visit Phuket, Phang Nga

PHUKET: Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia will arrive in Phuket on Friday for a tour of the island and Phang Nga.

Their plane will arrive at 9:30 am at Phuket International Airport, and the royal couple will be received at Phuket Provincial Hall by Governor Udomsak Usawarangkura and representatives of the Thai government, before visiting the Bangkok Phuket Hospital to thank staff for taking care of Swedish victims of the tsunami.

Around midday, the king and queen are due to fly by helicopter to Bang Muang in Takuapa District, Phang Nga, where they and HRH Princess Soamsavali will join in the opening ceremony of the “Learning for Healing” Center for children traumatised or orphaned by the tsunami.

Afterwards, the Swedish King and Queen will go to Baan Nam Khem, to donate money to local fishermen who lost boats, and will also take part in a memorial ceremony on the beach near the Pakarang Resort.

Returning to Phuket by helicopter, they will visit the cemetery in Mai Khao where the bodies of tsunami victims have been buried temporarily, before having dinner with Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife, Khunying Pojaman Shinawatra, at the Pearl Village Hotel.

During the tour, King Carl Gustaf will present medals to the Governors of Phuket, Phang Nga and Krabi.

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