The royal cremation of the late King is under way Thursday, culminating in a year of preparations for the grand, solemn event that unites the country in their bereavement and remembrance of a monarch who gave his all for the country.
Please join us on our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/bangkokpostlearning
Note: The first story below was posted before the ceremonies began. English learners should notice that throughout the day, the verb forms will change from the future to the past. You might want to save this story and then compare it to a story after the cremation ceremony has finished.
The updates clearly illustrate the change in time.
11:00am update
HM the King begins ceremony for King Bhumibol cremation
Online reporters
His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun has presided over a merit-making ceremony at the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall to start Thursday's royal cremation ceremonies for the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
The King chaired the religious ceremony inside the Grand Palace Thursday morning. It was to allow the royal urn of the late King to be moved to the waiting Royal Chariot of Great Victory, then carried in a gracious royal cremation procession to Sanam Luang.
The Royal Chariot of Great Victory and other chariots are pulled by about 500 soldiers, and bound for the ceremonial ground, where the royal crematorium is located.
First morning story
King to preside over grand, solemn ceremony
The day of the nation's deepest grief has arrived when hundreds of thousands of mourners will pack into Sanam Luang and surrounding areas to bid final farewell to their beloved King Bhumibol Adulyadej at his royal cremation.
The royal cremation of the late King is under way Thursday, culminating in a year of preparations for the grand, solemn event that unites the country in their bereavement and remembrance of a monarch who gave his all for the country.
The royal cremation will be performed at 10pm Thursday, by His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun at the royal crematorium at Sanam Luang attended by kings and queens, princes and princesses, foreign dignitaries and representatives and government officials. It also will be witnessed by people around the crematorium grounds and via a nationwide broadcast.
His Majesty the King will preside over earlier funeral ceremonies starting at 7am, with the transfer of the royal urn to the Phra Maru Mas or the royal crematorium.
The King will arrive at the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall inside the Grand Palace where the royal funeral urn of the late King is placed. Religious rites will be performed for moving the royal urn to Phra Yannamas Sam Lam Kan, the triple beam royal palanquin.
The royal urn will be moved out of the Grand Palace via the Thewa Phirom Gate and into the first royal procession. The procession will head to Wat Phra Chetuphon where the royal urn will be placed on the Phra Maha Phichai Rajarot, or the Great Victory Chariot, which will be waiting in the second royal procession.
The second procession will transport the royal urn to Phra Meru Mas, the royal crematorium, at Sanam Luang.
After arriving at the royal crematorium, the royal urn will be moved to Rajarot Puen Yai or the royal gun carriage which will be waiting in the third procession before circling the royal crematorium in a counter-clockwise direction three times.
The royal urn will later be placed in the royal crematorium.
At 4.30pm, His Majesty the King will return to the royal crematorium and take his seat inside the Dharma Royal Pavilion.
The royal ceremonies and religious rites, including laying the funeral flowers at Phra Meru Mas, will proceed until 10pm when the actual royal cremation takes place.
