Their Majesties King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipau’u Tuku’aho have arrived in Bankok this week for the funeral of King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
Since King Bhumibol passed away in October 2016 aged 88, his body has lain in state in the royal palace in Bangkok while a year-long period of national mourning was observed.
“According to the country’s traditions the embalmed remains have been constantly attended by Buddhist monks performing funeral rites, with ceremonial music played every three hours.
“Tens of thousands of mourners dressed in black swell the streets of Bangkok in preparation for the cremation of Thailand’s king in lavish $90million five-day ceremony,” the Daily Mail has reported.
Some 12million Thais have visited the palace to pay their respects to King Bhumibol since last year
The five-day funeral, including a procession through Bangkok and a public cremation, costs $90million, the Mail said.
“As of Wednesday evening, distinguished guests from at least 19 countries had arrived in Thailand. They included HM King Tupou VI and HM Queen Nanasipau’u of Tonga, HM King Letsie III and HM Queen ‘Masenate…
At home, the King of Bhutan ordered special prayers coinciding with Thursday’s royal cremation of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej.”