Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has thanked all Thais for their cooperation and help during the year of mourning for the late King Rama IX and the funeral ceremonies which concluded on Sunday.
He particularly thanked the volunteers who helped care for the more than 10 million people who went to the Grand Palace to pay their respects to the late King during the 12 months.
Gen Prayut thanked the mourners and the huge effort by all sectors to ensure the royal funeral ceremony proceeded smoothly. He said their efforts were appreciated by His Majesty the King, who had also asked authorities to facilitate people's attendance out of his concern for their well-being and their having to endure bad weather and the traffic.
"The government thanks the military and police officers, state officials and all people who have taken part in this historic event," Gen Prayut said on television on Monday morning.
After the ceremony to enshrine the royal relics and royal ashes of the late king were completed over the weekend, His Majesty the King had allowed the government to organise a special exhibition to tell the story of the royal cremation ceremony near the elaborately decorated royal crematorium.
Areas in the vicinity of the crematorium will be open to public to enjoy its beauty from Nov 2 to 30, Gen Prayut said.
The crematorium will be then removed. However, the memory of the late King Rama IX will remain forever.
Dok mai chan paper flowers people laid to pay respects to the late king during the royal cremation have been burned and the thousands of marigold flowers, which symbolise King Rama IX, which were planted by many people ahead of the Oct 26 ceremony will soon wither, he said.
"Yet the late king's teachings and his 4,000 development projects will never disappear, reminding Thai people to follow in his footsteps," Gen Prayut said.
