Royal Plaza (Bangkok)

The Royal Plaza, or formally Dusit Palace Plaza (Thai: ลานพระราชวังดุสิต; RTGS: Lan Phra Ratchawang Dusit), and also known among Thais as Equestrian Statue Plaza (Thai: ลานพระบรมรูปทรงม้า; RTGS: Lan Phra Borommarup Song Ma), is an important public square in the palace and government quarter of Bangkok, the capital of Thailand.

It is located in front of Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall in Dusit Palace, Dusit District, Bangkok, which was the former reception hall of the palace where King Chulalongkorn (Rama V; r. 1868–1910) once lived, and was later used as the first parliament building. At the center of the plaza is the Equestrian statue of King Chulalongkorn, the "Great beloved king". The square is rectangular shaped, about 500 metres long and 150 metres wide.^[1]

The Royal Plaza forms the northeastern end of Ratchadamnoen Avenue that presents a 1.5-km long vista towards it and links the plaza with the Sanam Luang and the Grand Palace in Bangkok's old town.^[1] Next to the plaza is Suan Amporn Park, the venue of the annual Red Cross Fair. On the northern corner of the square is Amphorn Sathan Residential Hall, the primary residence of current King Vajiralongkorn, on its southwestern edge is Paruskavan Palace which hosts the headquarters of National Intelligence Agency and Metropolitan Police Bureau. To its south is the headquarters of the Royal Thai Army's 1st army region. Dusit Zoo is also located near the plaza.

It is often used for rallies, parades and ceremonies, for instance students of Chulalongkorn University traditionally celebrate their graduation on this square.