Prince Andrew to visit Thailand
2005-03-25 09:41
Bangkok - Prince Andrew, the son of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, will make a private visit to Thailand's tsunami-hit areas in late April, the Thai foreign ministry said Friday.
Andrew, who is fourth in line to the British throne, will arrive in the kingdom on April 23 for a three-day trip.
He is expected to visit the Thai Tsunami Victims Identification unit at Mai Khao cemetery on the southern resort island of Phuket, foreign ministry officials said.
Britain's Foreign Office says 78 Britons died in Thailand when the tsunami hit on December 26, and that 74 are "highly likely" to have died around the Indian Ocean.
A total of 5 395 people are confirmed dead in Thailand's tsunami disaster, roughly half of them believed to be foreign holidaymakers.
Andrew is also scheduled to make a courtesy call on Thai Princess Ubolratana, the oldest daughter of Thailand's king and queen, whose son died in the tsunami.