Thailand's funeral procession for King Bhumibol Adulyadej
- Published
Mourners from across the country have come to the capital, waiting from the early hours of the morning to pay their respects to King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
The revered king died in October 2016, aged 88. Now that the one-year mourning period is coming to an end, the five-day ceremony is the last chance for Thais to bid farewell to their late monarch.
His cremation site, featuring sculptures of mythical creatures and auspicious animals, took almost a year to complete.
The funeral started on Wednesday, but Thursday's procession was the main event. In the morning, the royal urn was brought out of the palace to make its way to the cremation site.
King Maha Vajiralongkorn succeeded his father who for most Thais was the only monarch they had ever known.
He plays a central role in the ceremony and will also light the funeral pyre on Thursday evening.
Many mourners camped in the capital for days, to ensure they would get a spot close to the procession route.
After the first rituals in the morning, the royal urn was later carried in a chariot from the palace to the cremation site.
People along the route were wearing black, some prostrated as a mark of respect, and many buildings in the city centre are draped with flowers.
Ruling over seven decades, Bhumibol Adulyadej was seen as a stabilising figure in a country hit by cycles of political turmoil and multiple coups.
- Published26 October 2017
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