Cremation of King Bhumibol Adulyadej

The Official Cremation Ceremonies of King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand, one of the longest reigning monarchs in the world who had ruled for over 70 years when he died last October, are being celebrated all around Thailand from October 25th to 29th, with the main ceremony in Bangkok on the 26th, which was attended by Foreign Royals and Heads of State.

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On the morning of October 26th, the Urn, nestled in the Royal Chariot, was moved from Dusit Maha Prasad Throne Hall, where the King’s body has been Lying-in-State for the past year, in a lavish Funeral procession to the Royal Crematorium at the Sanam Luang Royal Plaza.

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In the early evening, a symbolic cremation was performed by King Maha Vajiralongkorn, son of the late King, at the Royal Crematorium, before which Foreign dignitaries filed past to pay their respects to the late King. Afterwards, there were festivals to mark the end of an official mourning period, which included outdoor Khon performances, puppet shows and a musical concert.

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In the late evening, the actual Royal Cremation took place in the grand crematorium on Sanam Luang public square near Bangkok’s Grand Palace. The main funeral pyre is meant to represent Mount Meru, the center of the Hindu universe, and is decorated with paintings of mythical creatures and a pair of statues of the king’s favorite dogs.

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Among the guests were King Jigme and Queen Jetsun of Bhutan, Queen Mathilde of Belgium, Queen Máxima of Netherlands, Queen Sofia of Spain, Queen Silvia of Sweden,  King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipau’u of Tonga, Sultan and Sultana of Perak, King Letsie III and Queen Masenate of Lesotho, Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark, Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume of Luxembourg, Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko of Japan, the Duke of York, and Princess Margaretha of Liechtenstein.

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