He suffered from chronic heart disease and had been admitted to the hospital’s intensive care unit for a while, according to Dr Prasit Watanapa, dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Siriraj Hospital.

Despite the best efforts of the medical team, Khwankeo passed away at 4.48am yesterday.

Khwankeo was born on September 3, 1928. He was the twin brother of Keokhwan Vajarodaya, the former lord chamberlain who passed away last year.

A prayer ceremony for Khwankeo will be held for seven days at the Benjamabopit Temple, according to his son Distorn, who is a senior official at the Royal Household Bureau. Khwankeo’s funeral ceremony has come under the royal sponsorship of His Majesty the King, the Royal Household Bureau said.

The King assigned privy councillor Palakorn Suwannarat to represent him in a bathing rite and place His Majesty’s wreath in front of Khwankeo’s coffin.