A luxury commode custom-built for a Thai princess's visit to Cambodia was left unused despite its hefty $40,000 price tag, local officials said Tuesday, in a poor country where the majority of rural dwellers do not have access to a toilet. The convenience was built for a visit on Monday by Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn to Yeak Lom lake in northeastern Cambodia. It took 10 labourers 19 days to build the eight-metre square toilet. But her two-hour visit ended without her ever having experienced the lavish water closet, community leader Ven Churk. The toilet was later "removed" and the adjoining bathroom will now be turned into a security post for tourists visiting the tree-ringed lake, he added. "She (the Princess) did not go inside the bathroom, she just looked at it from outside and took some pictures," he said.

Tin Luong, the chief of Yeak Lom commune, saidhe was impressed by the "very beautiful" bathroom.

"Thai engineers have constructed the bathroom," he said confirming all of the materials were brought from Thailand.

"I estimate that it could cost up to $40,000 to build the bathroom. It looks like a house with beautiful decoration," he added.

Figures released last year by UNICEF said 61.5 per cent of Cambodians living in rural areas practice open-defecation -- one of the highest rates in Southeast Asia -- as they have no access to latrines.

Thailand's monarchy is among the world's richest, with its fortune in part built through investments in major local businesses such as SCG and Siam Commercial Bank.

After visiting the lake, the princess opened a new health centre that was donated by the Thai royal family. She also met with Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen during the visit, which ends on Wednesday.