Edited by Anna Popper
To mark the National Day of the Kingdom of Thailand, the Birthday Anniversary of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great, and Thailand’s Father’s Day – celebrated annually on 5 December – the Royal Thai Embassy in Budapest hosted a diplomatic reception in the Queen Elizabeth Ballroom of the legendary Gundel Restaurant. The venue holds special historical significance: His Majesty King Chulalongkorn (King Rama V) of the Kingdom of Thailand (then known as the Kingdom of Siam) dined there during his visit to Hungary in 1897.
Hosted by H.E. Mr. Phrommes Bhaholpolbhayuhasena, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Thailand to Hungary, and Mrs. Vanida Bhaholpolbhayuhasena, the celebration brought together Hungarian officials, members of the diplomatic corps, representatives of the cultural, academic and economic sectors, members of the Thai community, and Friends of Thailand. The Guest of Honour was Mr. István Jakab, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of Hungary.
The event began with the national anthems of the Kingdom of Thailand and Hungary, performed by the renowned Hungarian violinist Maestro Vilmos Oláh, a cultural supporter of Thailand.
It was followed by the remarks of Ambassador Phrommes Bhaholpolbhayuhasena:
“I have the honour to welcome you to Thailand’s National Day reception. I would like to express my appreciation for your presence here today. This is my second time hosting Thailand’s National Day Reception, albeit in a different venue and context.
Before I continue my speech, may I kindly invite everyone to stand in a moment of silence in memoryof Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother, who passed away peacefully on 24 October 2025. Thank you.
5th December is no ordinary day. It is woven with reverence, memory, and national pride. It marks three sacred occasions for the Thai people. These occasions are inseparable: His Majesty’s birthday became our National Day, for His Majesty was the soul of the nation. And because the Thai people saw in His Majesty gentleness, wisdom, and strength of a father, the day became our Father’s Day.
This year, however, the day has a deeper meaning. As we pay homage to His Majesty King Rama IX, we also bow our heads in remembrance of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother – the guiding presence beside His Majesty and the spirit that nurtured Thai culture, dignity, and grace. Her Majesty once said, ‘The King is the water, I will be the forest – the forest that offers loyalty to the water’. And so she was – the forest that held the soil, shaded the land, and gave life to the dreams of the Thai people. His Majesty’s legacy lives in the fields and rivers – from the Sufficiency Economy to water management. Her Majesty’s legacy lives in the shimmer of Thai silk and the crafts revived through her SUPPORT Foundation. Together, Their Majesties gave Thailand resilience and identity.
As we commemorate these important occasions, may I also reflect on Thai–Hungarian relations. This year, the Royal Thai Embassy organised a wide range of cultural events, in collaboration with local partners, from cooking and Thai boxing workshops to the Thai Festival at the Westend Rooftop Garden in Budapest. The festival showcased Thai cuisine, martial arts, and spirituality, thus strengthening people-to-people ties.
On the economic field, we facilitated visits of Thai business delegations to Hungary and Hungarian delegations to Thailand. We continue to support Thai investments in Hungary, including Thai President Foods in Esztergom and the Anantara Hotel in Budapest. We look forward to expanding these partnerships further.
Politically, 2025 marked a milestone in Thai-Hungarian relations with the official visit of the Speaker of the Thai House of Representatives to Hungary. I wish to thank the Hungarian National Assembly for its hospitality, which ensured a fruitful visit. We will work on the subjects discussed – investment, culture, and people-to-people relations – based on our shared values of peace, tradition, family, and sovereignty.
Sadly, the planned visit of the Thai Foreign Minister to Hungary could not take place due to an unexpected development on Thailand’s border that required his full attention. This was a sobering reminder that even in our region, where neighbouring countries maintain effective bilateral mechanisms to resolve misunderstandings, and ASEAN provides robust frameworks for dialogue, peace must never be taken for granted.
On this subject, I wish to reiterate Thailand’s commitment to peace and our readiness to work on demining, anti-scamming efforts, humanitarian aid to neighbours, and the promotion of peaceful dialogue.
Before I conclude, may I also point out that we have gathered in a place of special significance for Thai–Hungarian relations. In 1897, during his visit to Hungary, His Majesty King Chulalongkorn (King Rama V of Siam) dined at this very restaurant, then known as Wampetich. That visit laid the first foundation of Thai–Hungarian friendship, a legacy upon which we continue to build today. Let us therefore continue to build upon this foundation and the legacy of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great and Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother, for the benefit of the Thai and Hungarian peoples, as well as the global community.”
The Guest of Honour, Mr. István Jakab, Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly also addressed the attendees. In his remarks, he underlined the long-standing friendship between Hungary and Thailand and welcomed the opportunity to celebrate Thailand’s National Day in Budapest in the presence of diplomats, partners and friends of Thailand. He emphasized that bilateral relations have deepened further in recent years through steady political dialogue, expanding economic cooperation, and vibrant people-to-people connections.
Mr. Jakab highlighted recent milestones in the relationship, including the official visit of H.E. Mr. Wanmuhamadnoor Matha, Speaker of the House of Representatives of Thailand, to Hungary in November 2025, which he described as an important step toward strengthening parliamentary ties and enhancing mutual understanding. He also referred to the meeting of the Joint Commission on Economic Cooperation, held in Budapest in 2024, as a practical and forward-looking platform that helped identify new opportunities for cooperation and encouraged closer collaboration between institutions and the business communities.
Looking ahead, Mr. Jakab encouraged both sides to explore and develop new joint projects in a number of promising areas, including water management, medical technology, agricultural innovation,tourism, hospitality, education, and culture. He underlined that these fields offer strong potential for tangible results, benefiting both countries through innovation, knowledge exchange and sustainable partnerships. He also pointed to the value of combining Hungarian expertise and research capacity with Thailand’s experience and regional outreach, particularly in areas where practical solutions and long-term planning are essential.
In closing his speech, Mr. Jakab conveyed Hungary’s best wishes for peace, progress and prosperity to Thailand and the Thai people, and reaffirmed Hungary’s commitment to further strengthening the friendship between the two nations.
He concluded with a message of goodwill and solidarity:
“Long live the Kingdom of Thailand! Long live Hungarian–Thai friendship!”
The evening also featured violin performances of royal compositions by a Thai student from the University of Szeged’s Faculty of Music, along with a screening of momentous events from the life of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother.
During the reception, guests enjoyed a selection of signature Thai dishes, including Tom Yum Kung, Pad Thai, Mama noodle salad, and an array of traditional Thai desserts. The Director of the Thai Trade Office in Budapest also participated in the reception with a display showcasing Thai food products available in Hungary.
Thailand Inaugurated New Embassy Premises in Budapest
On 19 November 2025, H.E. Mr. Phrommes Bhaholpolbhayuhasena, Ambassador of Thailand to Hungary, inaugurated the new chancery of the Royal Thai Embassy in Budapest. The event was honoured by the presence of Mr. Ádám Stifter, Deputy State Secretary for the Development of Eastern Relations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, as Guest of Honour.
In his remarks, Mr. Stifter underscored Thailand’s importance within Hungary’s Eastern Opening policy, noting the frequency of bilateral exchanges and visits, which are expected to continue. He also highlighted the broad scope of Thai–Hungarian cooperation.
Also in attendance were Mr. István Jakab, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of Hungary, along with ambassadors and members of the diplomatic corps.
In his address, Ambassador Phrommes recalled the long history of Thai–Hungarian relations, dating back to 1869, the time of the Kingdom of Siam and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. He also highlighted the visit of King Rama V to Hungary in 1897, which laid a strong foundation for the enduring friendship between the two countries.
To mark the occasion, the Royal Thai Embassy presented a photo exhibition featuring images of visits by members of the Thai Royal Family to Hungary, as well as photographs documenting high-level exchanges between Thailand and Hungary.
A dedicated memorial room was set up in the new embassy building in remembrance of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother, following her passing on 24 October 2025. Guests were invited to leave written messages of condolence there.
Source: Embassy of Thailand in Budapest
Photos from the Embassy of Thailand in Budapest; and Diplomatic Press Agency
