Crowds expected to greet prince - Bangkok POst
Bhutan\'s Crown Prince Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck arrives at the Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel & Towers, where he will stay until Sunday during his visit to Thailand as a guest of the government. тАФ SURAPOL PROMSAKA NA SAKONNAKHON

Bhutan\'s Crown Prince Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck is expected to draw a huge crowd of admirers when he visits the Royal Flora Ratchaphruek expo in Chiang Mai today. Up to 50,000 people are expected to turn up at the event to catch a glimpse of the charming prince, who has gained many adoring fans here since his visit to the kingdom for the celebrations of the 60th anniversary of His Majesty the King\'s accession to the throne earlier this year.

Pol Col Wirat Sumanaphan, head of the security and protection centre at the floral expo, said the majority of visitors were expected to be there to greet the Bhutanese crown prince at around 2pm.

Pol Col Sattakit Kornthong, deputy chief of Chiang Mai provincial police, said full security measures would be in place with a 300-strong police force assigned to the compound of the event.

Well-wishers will be allowed to welcome the crown prince on both sides of the path leading into the expo. But the six areas of the park that Crown Prince Jigme is due to visit, including the Royal Pavilion, the orchid garden and Bhutan\'s national garden, will be off-limits to the public during his visit.

During his visit to the expo, the crown prince will officially hand over to Thailand Bhutan\'s \'\'Himalayan Garden of Peace\'\', which is being exhibited alongside other gardens from around the world.

Tickets for the expo today have already sold out, but such is the demand that people have been re-selling tickets at inflated prices to those desperate to see the crown prince.

Meanwhile, Arthit Urairat, rector of Rangsit University, said the university will present Crown Prince Jigme with an honorary doctorate on November 26.

Mr Arthit said the university is also considering granting scholarships to about 30 Bhutanese who are studying at the campus to mark Crown Prince Jigme\'s birthday on Feb 21.

The scholarship programme is part of a joint human resource development project between the university and Bhutan.

Meanwhile, the cabinet has agreed to present a vase specially prepared by the Wiang Ka Long community in Chiang Rai\'s Wiang Pa Pao district as a gift to the Bhutanese crown prince.

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