His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Gyaltsuen are in the Thai capital Bangkok to pay their last respects to His Majesty the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej as the royal cremation ceremony gets underway.
Their Majesties, accompanied by His Royal Highness The Gyalsey, were received at the Suvarnabhumi International Airport yesterday by Thai Privy Councillor General Surayud Chulanont and Energy Minister General Anantaporn Kanjanarat.
His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej passed away on October 13 last year at the age of 88. By Thai tradition, the remains of His Majesty lay in state for a period of one year, which is highly significant in Thailand.
“This is because it would provide opportunity for his subjects, who would be travelling around Thailand, to come and pay respects,” said Krerkpan Roekchamnong, who is the Director General of the Department of South Asian, Middle East and African Affairs of Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“His remains was placed at the Grand Palace and it was open to all Thai and foreign dignitaries. His Majesty The King and Queen of Bhutan were among the first dignitaries and monarchs or the royal families to come and pay respects to the remains of the King.”
The royal cremation ceremony and the crematorium process are meticulously prepared following ancient Thai royal traditions, which took about 10 months to complete and four million volunteers. The ceremony, which lasts five days, holds a very special importance for the Thai people.
“As for the royal cremation, as you know, it will be placed at the Public Square or Sanam Luang,” said Director General Krerkpan Roekchamnong.
“The erection of the crematorium is something that requires a lot of craftsmanship and artists. Thousands of them put in their hearts and souls in the construction of this particular crematorium. Normally, it would take three years to construct because they are all hand crafted. But we managed to do it within one year.”
A royal merit-making ceremony was held yesterday at Dusit Maha Prasad Throne Hall in the Grand Palace in preparation for moving the Royal Urn to the Royal Crematorium at Sanam Luang ceremonial ground.
In Bhutan, special prayers are being held in honour of the late King at the Kuenselphodrang today. His Holiness the Je Khenpo is presiding over the daylong special prayers. The prayer ceremony is being attended by the members of the royal family, senior government officials, diplomats, the Thai community in Bhutan and the general public.
Members of royal families and dignitaries from 42 other countries are also in Bangkok for the royal funeral. So far, about 12 million people have paid their respects to the late King at the Grand Palace.
