The ceremonial urn of the late King Rama IX was placed in the royal crematorium at Sanam Luang, Bangkok, on Thursday afternoon.
After the ceremonial urn was transported on the Royal Chariot of Great Victory from beside the Grand Palace in the morning to the front of the royal crematorium at Sanam Luang, it was loaded onto the Gun Carriage and carried around the crematorium three times in an anti-clockwise direction.
The urn was then lifted onto its base upon the royal crematorium at about 3pm. His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun and the royal family ascended to the crematorium to pay respect to the late king before leaving the ceremonial venue.
His Majesty the King was set to return to the venue at 4.30pm. Royal ceremonies and religious rites, including the laying of funeral flowers at the royal crematorium, were set to follow until 10pm, the time of the actual royal cremation.
The government committee organising the royal cremation reported that about 157,000 people had gathered on Thursday at Sanam Luang and the Grand Palace for the procession of the ceremonial urn to the royal crematorium, and the royal cremation itself. About 200,000 others were in the vicinity.
Thai classical performances were set to take place at Sanam Luang from 6pm Thursday until 6am Friday, pausing for ceremonies at the royal crematorium.
