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| Thai king death: Thousands queue to pay respects at palace | Thai king death: Thousands queue to pay respects at palace |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Large queues formed at the Grand Palace in the Thai capital as mourners paid their respects to King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who died on Thursday. | |
| Thousands, dressed in black, waited to enter to sign a book of condolences at the palace in central Bangkok. | |
| Free buses were laid on to transport mourners from rural areas. | Free buses were laid on to transport mourners from rural areas. |
| A regent will stand in until the late king's son, Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, accedes to the throne. | A regent will stand in until the late king's son, Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, accedes to the throne. |
| Prince Vajiralongkorn has asked for a delay while he grieves for his father, who at 88 was the world's longest-reigning monarch. | Prince Vajiralongkorn has asked for a delay while he grieves for his father, who at 88 was the world's longest-reigning monarch. |
| Speaking on state television late on Friday, Deputy PM Wissanu Krea-ngam said the head of Thailand's privy council - currently former Prime Minister Prem Tinsulanonda - would be regent. | Speaking on state television late on Friday, Deputy PM Wissanu Krea-ngam said the head of Thailand's privy council - currently former Prime Minister Prem Tinsulanonda - would be regent. |
| "The situation will not be used for long," Mr Wissanu said. | "The situation will not be used for long," Mr Wissanu said. |
| The crown prince and Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn were among those who paid their respects at the palace. | The crown prince and Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn were among those who paid their respects at the palace. |
| On Friday, the king's body was transported in a convoy to the Temple of the Emerald Buddha in the Grand Palace from the hospital where he died. Cremation is not expected for several months. | On Friday, the king's body was transported in a convoy to the Temple of the Emerald Buddha in the Grand Palace from the hospital where he died. Cremation is not expected for several months. |
| Thousands of mourners lined the streets, many weeping, as the convoy passed. Millions more watched on TV. | Thousands of mourners lined the streets, many weeping, as the convoy passed. Millions more watched on TV. |
| Flags are to fly at half-mast for the next 30 days and official mourning will last a year. | Flags are to fly at half-mast for the next 30 days and official mourning will last a year. |
| People have been asked to wear black, and avoid "joyful events" during this period. | People have been asked to wear black, and avoid "joyful events" during this period. |
| King Bhumibol earned the devotion of Thais for his efforts to help the rural poor and was also seen as a stabilising figure in a country often wracked by political turmoil. Thailand remains under military rule following a coup in 2014. | King Bhumibol earned the devotion of Thais for his efforts to help the rural poor and was also seen as a stabilising figure in a country often wracked by political turmoil. Thailand remains under military rule following a coup in 2014. |
| But critics argued he had endorsed military takeovers and sometimes failed to speak out against human rights abuses. | But critics argued he had endorsed military takeovers and sometimes failed to speak out against human rights abuses. |
| The crown prince, who is 64, spends much of his time overseas and is much less well known to Thais. | The crown prince, who is 64, spends much of his time overseas and is much less well known to Thais. |
| Profile: Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn | Profile: Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn |
| Strict lese-majeste laws protect the most senior members of Thailand's royal family from insult or threat. Public discussion of the succession can be punishable by lengthy jail terms. | Strict lese-majeste laws protect the most senior members of Thailand's royal family from insult or threat. Public discussion of the succession can be punishable by lengthy jail terms. |