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| Thailand begins royal cremation for late King Bhumibol Adulyadej | Thailand begins royal cremation for late King Bhumibol Adulyadej |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Mourners in Thailand are marking the main part of the five-day funeral ceremony for the country's late King Bhumibol Adulyadej. | Mourners in Thailand are marking the main part of the five-day funeral ceremony for the country's late King Bhumibol Adulyadej. |
| The revered king died in October 2016 aged 88. | The revered king died in October 2016 aged 88. |
| He will be cremated later on Thursday, in a royal pyre to be lit by his son and successor to the throne, King Maha Vajiralongkorn. | |
| The funeral officially started on Wednesday with a merit-making ceremony, a Buddhist rite, in the Grand Palace. | The funeral officially started on Wednesday with a merit-making ceremony, a Buddhist rite, in the Grand Palace. |
| Thursday has been declared a public holiday, with many businesses shut all day or closing at midday. | Thursday has been declared a public holiday, with many businesses shut all day or closing at midday. |
| Early on Thursday morning, the royal urn will be brought in a chariot procession from the Throne Hall in the Grand Palace to the royal crematorium. | Early on Thursday morning, the royal urn will be brought in a chariot procession from the Throne Hall in the Grand Palace to the royal crematorium. |
| Members of royal families and dignitaries from more than 40 countries will attend the cremation, while huge crowds are expected to line the nearby streets. | Members of royal families and dignitaries from more than 40 countries will attend the cremation, while huge crowds are expected to line the nearby streets. |
| The late king's ashes will then be collected and transported back to the palace on Friday. Two more days of ceremonies will follow. | The late king's ashes will then be collected and transported back to the palace on Friday. Two more days of ceremonies will follow. |
| The king was seen as a stabilising figure in a country hit by cycles of political turmoil and multiple coups. | The king was seen as a stabilising figure in a country hit by cycles of political turmoil and multiple coups. |
| Since his death on 13 October 2016, Thailand has observed a year of official mourning, with many people wearing black. | Since his death on 13 October 2016, Thailand has observed a year of official mourning, with many people wearing black. |
| Preparations for this week's events took almost a year and have included setting up the large cremation complex near the palace. | Preparations for this week's events took almost a year and have included setting up the large cremation complex near the palace. |
| The funeral site features sculptures of mythical creatures and auspicious animals such as lions and elephants. | The funeral site features sculptures of mythical creatures and auspicious animals such as lions and elephants. |
| According to Buddhist tradition, the funeral rituals are modelled after the universe and the cremation pyre represents a sacred mountain. | According to Buddhist tradition, the funeral rituals are modelled after the universe and the cremation pyre represents a sacred mountain. |
| The elaborate ceremony is expected to draw as many as 250,000 people from across Thailand. Many of the mourners arrived in the capital days ago, camping in tents. | The elaborate ceremony is expected to draw as many as 250,000 people from across Thailand. Many of the mourners arrived in the capital days ago, camping in tents. |
| The funeral ceremonies come with strict guidelines for those attending. Thailand's lese-majeste law, which forbids any insult to the monarchy, is among the harshest in the world. | The funeral ceremonies come with strict guidelines for those attending. Thailand's lese-majeste law, which forbids any insult to the monarchy, is among the harshest in the world. |