Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn yesterday took part in the second rehearsal for the processions of the late King's royal funeral ceremonies at Sanam Luang, which drew a large crowd of people who braved an overnight wait to observe the day-long event.
More than 10,000 black-clad people were estimated to have turned up to watch the event behind barricades along routes in the old quarter of the city, police said.
Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana also led the King's Guard cavalry mounted on a royal horse while Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha was also seen marching at the rehearsal.
Processions number one, two, three and six were open for public viewing from 7am yesterday, with the practice rounds continuing well past 1pm.
The rehearsal featured the third procession of Ratcharot Puen Yai, the royal cannon-equipped chariot, which carried a duplicate royal urn of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej and went around the royal crematorium at Sanam Luang.
The princess performed the circling ceremony, called wian utawat, done for three rounds, each with a 260-metre distance, in a counter-clockwise direction.
Ceremonial officers then carried the royal urn from Ratcharot Puen Yai to Phra Chittakathan, or the catafalque, using Kroen Bandai Nak, a ramp decorated with naga mythical serpent-like creatures for raising the royal urn.
The catafalque houses the late King's sandalwood-made royal urn.
The morning rehearsal ended after the third procession, which is one of six processions in the royal cremation ceremony, completed its function.
According to traditional steps during the royal cremation ceremony, the third procession is carried out after the first and second processions carry the royal urn from the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall in the Grand Palace to Sanam Luang.
The first procession transfers the golden urn from the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall to Phra Yannamas Sam Lam Khan, a large carved wooden palanquin with three poles, which then carries it Phra Maha Phichai Ratcharot.
The Royal Chariot of Great Victory, Phra Maha Phichai Ratcharot, is the centre of the second procession. The vehicle, built in the shape of a busabok, a small elaborate pavilion throne, carries the royal urn to Ratchaorot Puen Yai in the third procession.
The rehearsal of the first and second processions was held on Oct 7 and yesterday.
Traditionally once the royal cremation ceremony is completed, the fourth and fifth processions carry the containers of royal relics and royal ashes of the late King to the Grand Palace.
The sixth procession, known as the cavalry, will then carry the royal ashes to Wat Rajabopit Sathit Maha Simaram and Wat Bowon Niwet.
The royal relics will be enshrined at the Chakri Maha Prasat Throne Hall inside the Grand Palace.
Yesterday afternoon, Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana took part in the rehearsal of the sixth procession.
The princess, who is adept at horse riding and has represented Thailand in equestrian competitions, led the cavalry which is made up of 78 mounted soldiers from the 29th Cavalry Battalion, to the two temples.
Her horse, which is named "W-Calata", is a white German-bred mare trained for equestrian use, according to Col Withai Laithomya, chief of the princess' cavalry unit.
The next and last rehearsal of the procession of the royal funeral will be held on Oct 21. At the second rehearsal yesterday, Thai spectators joined the solemn commemoration in honour of the late King.
"We could have watched the event on television, but coming here personally is one way to pay respect to the late King, having been born under his reign," said Sunee Wantanakomol, a 41-year-old government office worker who was among the spectators yesterday.
Accompanied by her 80-year-old mother, she said her ancestors originally emigrated from China before the late King Bhumibol's reign.
Ms Sunee, who was born and raised in Thailand, said she was happy to watch people flock to the streets to view the practice sessions despite the hot weather. "He [the late King] provided us with peace and shelter, and cared for us like we were one of his own children," she said.
