Ceremony of City Key Presentation

The Key to the City of Bangkok

The tradition of the “City Key” or “the Key to the City” presentation was originated around the 16^th century (B.E. 2000) in England.  At that time, the Lord Chamberlain had responsibility for receiving and welcoming, and arranging state ceremonies for the Sovereign’s guests.  The Lord Chamberlain had a white staff and a jeweled key as honorable symbols of his position.  During that period of time, after new foreign ambassador presented his credentials to the Lord Chamberlain to consider on behalf of the sovereign and the Lord accepted the credentials, he would present the Key to the City to the ambassador, signifying the acceptance of his stature and welcoming him to the kingdom.  Hence, the tradition of City Key presentation was started.

  In the Middle Ages (B.E. 2100-2300), every city in Europe built the city wall to protect the city from attacks.  Likewise, His Majesty King Buddha Yodfa
Chulaloke Maharaj (King Rama I) built the city wall to protect the capital city from aggressors when he moved the capital from Thonburi to Bangkok.  Every city wall in Europe and Thailand had a large gate representing the entrance to the city which always being locked during night time or in case of emergency

        The presentation of the Key to the City is a tradition presenting to dignitary guests supposing of giving a Key to unlock the gate and enter the city.  In reality, the presented key is not an actual key but a symbol of welcome. Many cities in civilized countries carry on the tradition to honor their visiting guests.

         In the past, Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, was governed under the municipal system, i.e. Bangkok Municipality headed by the Mayor of Bangkok, which the presentation of the City Key was started.  Accordingly, the Mayor of Bangkok was the person responsible for presenting the key to dignitary guests. The first presentation of the City Key to the royal guests was in 1661 when H.E. Soekarno, President of
the Republic of Indonesia had an official state visit to Bangkok as a royal guest of Their Majesties King and Queen during 16 to 20 April, 1966.  The City Key presentation ceremony at that time was arranged at Chitralada Royal Railway Station where His Majesty the King waited for delivering a welcome address to the royal guest.  Later, Bangkok Municipality arranged the welcome ceremony and the City Key presentation at the Bangkok Municipality’s pavilion for the ceremony built on one end of the Phan Fa Lilat Bridge for every presentation of City Key to royal guests was organized.  Bangkok Municipality or later called Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (“BMA”) had arranged the ceremony at that place all along until 1990 when BMA built the BMA’s permanent pavilion (in the area which used to be Sala Chalermthai Theatre).  When Their Majesties King and Queen of Malaysia had an official state visit to Thailand as the royal guests of H.M. KING Bhumibol
Adulyadej and H.M. Queen Sirikit from 17 to 21 December 1990, BMA arranged the welcome ceremony on behalf of the people of Bangkok and presented the Key to the City to H.M. King of Malaysia at the BMA’s permanent pavilion of which later, on 6 August 1992, H.M. KING Bhumibol
Adulyadej gave the name of the pavilion as Maha Jetsadabordin Pavilion.  Since then, BMA has always arranged the welcome ceremony and presented the Key to the City to royal guests at Maha Jetsadabordin Pavilion; and at present, the Governor of Bangkok is the person presenting the Key to the City to the heads of states having official visits to Bangkok.

       The ceremony of City Key presentation will take place at Maha Jetsadabordin Pavilion, where the Governor of Bangkok will deliver a welcome address and present City Key as well as a souvenir at the end of the state visit. The Governor of Bangkok will fully dress in an official white uniform with Governor’s royal breast chain decoration, a special uniform for the Governor of Bangkok post.

        On the occasion of 6th Cycle Birthday of His Majesty the King, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration ordered the Key to the City of Bangkok made of solid gold to be presented to Their Majesties King and Queen’s royal guests and guests having official state visit to Thailand; and since then, the golden Key to the City has always been presented in the ceremony.

The City Key Presentation Ceremony

       A famous Thai’s proverb says that “according to our truest Thai tradition, whoever step   through the gate would be greeted with a smile”.  This belief has been put into practice for many generations.  However, Thai people have many different ways to welcome their guests,  the reception would be based on the status of the host as well as guest.

       Regardless, the hosts would offer the best of their procession to the guests. In the rural communities, people greet and refresh their guests with drinking water, some scented with jasmine flowers. Most cities have shared in the tradition of welcoming visitors. One of the famous traditions is the presentation of the “Key to the City”.

       The tradition of presenting “Key to the City” was originated around 16^th century (B.E.2000) in England. At the time, the Lord Chamberlain had responsibilities of undertaking ceremonial duties and receiving important guests of the Sovereign. The Lord Chamberlain has a white staff and a jeweled key as the symbols of this honorable position.

       When anew foreign ambassador visited London, he has to present his credential to the Lord Chamberlain who would consider it to behalf to the Sovereign and then the Lord Chamberlain would present a key to the city to the ambassadors signifying the acceptance of his stature and welcoming him to the kingdom. Hence, the tradition of city key presentation was started.

       Later in the middle age, (B.E. 2100 - 2300), most cities in Europe had built huge walls to protect the Cities. Likewise, King Rama I of Siam had ordered the building of city wall after he had moved the capital across Choa Phraya River from Thonburi to Pranakorn side. These walls, both in Europe and Thailand, had a big gate leading to the city and the gate was always closed at night of during emergency.

       The presentation of the Key to the City is a tradition presenting to dignitary guests supposing of giving a key to unlock the gate and enter the city. In reality, the presented key is not an actual key but a symbol of welcome. Many cities in civilized countries carry on the tradition to honor their visiting guests.

       In the past, Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, was governed under the municipal system headed by the Mayor of Bangkok who was responsible for presenting the Key to the City to dignitary guests. Presently, the local administration system had been changed and Bangkok is administered by The Governor of Bangkok will present the Key to the City of Bangkok to the head of states who have official state visit to Bangkok. The ceremony of city key presentation will take place at Maha Jetsadabordin Pavilion, where the governor of Bangkok will deliver a welcome address and present city key as well as present a souvenir at the end of the state visit.

       The governor of Bangkok will fully dress in an official white uniform with Governor’s sash and royal decorations, a special uniform for the governor post.

       On the occasion of 6^th cycle birthday of His Majesty King Bhumipol, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has ordered the Key to the City of Bangkok made of solid gold to be presented to the guests of Their Majesties King Phumipol and Queen Sirikit started form the year 2000 (B.E.2543) and then on.

       The ceremony of the presentation of the “Key to the city of Bangkok; Yet, it is deemed to be a very solemn ceremony or both the host and guests.    

Compiled by International Affairs Office, Office of the Permanent Secretary for the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration