Thailand Bids Farewell to Its King in an Elaborate Funeral Ceremony

Alan Taylor
October 26, 2017
37 Photos
In Focus

A full year after the death of Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the official period of mourning is over and a complex five-day-long royal funeral ceremony began yesterday, attended in person by thousands and watched by millions on TV or other devices. King Bhumibol was a revered figure in Thailand, who enjoyed widespread popularity as he reigned for 70 years. Over the past year, an intricate temporary Royal Crematorium was built for the ceremony, near the Royal Palace, where the Royal Urn was taken yesterday for cremation.

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The royal urn is carried in the royal chariot, pulled by dozens of soldiers during the funeral procession for the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej, in Bangkok, Thailand, on October 26, 2017. #

Roberto Schmidt / AFP / Getty

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Afternoon light fades behind the warmly lit royal crematorium and funeral complex for the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej in Bangkok on October 20, 2017. After a year of construction, Thai artists and craftsmen just put the finishing touches on the elaborate crematorium complex days ahead of the funeral. After the five-day funeral, the crematorium will be torn down. #

Kittinun Rodsupan / AP

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People gathered outside the royal palace to pay their respects to the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej as Bangkok prepared for his cremation on October 22, 2017. #

Christopher Furlong / Getty

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Mourners wait for the funeral procession of King Bhumibol to take place in Bangkok on October 26, 2017. #

Ye Aung Thu / AFP / Getty

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Police officers stand guard before the start of the funeral procession for King Bhumibol before the royal cremation ceremony in front of the Grand Palace in Bangkok on October 26, 2017. #

Athit Perawongmetha / Reuters

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As dawn breaks, thousands of people queue on a bridge to attend the funeral of King Bhumibol on October 26, 2017. #

Christopher Furlong / Getty

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A royal guard stands with head bowed during the funeral procession of King Bhumibol in Bangkok on October 26, 2017. #

Anthony Wallace / AFP / Getty

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A sleeping girl wears a pin with picture of King Bhumibol as mourners wait for the royal cremation ceremony near the Grand Palace on October 25, 2017. #

Damir Sagolj / Reuters

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Young boy scouts hold offerings for mourners near a large image of the late king in Bangkok. #

Aaron Joel Santos / Getty

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Crowds of people hold up photographs of the late king as they wait in line to attend his funeral on October 26, 2017. #

Christopher Furlong / Getty

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Mourners walk toward the funeral of King Bhumibol on October 26, 2017. #

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A Thai soldier in dress uniform carries flowers as a sign of respect for the late king at the King Rama V Monument in Bangkok on October 26, 2017. #

Ye Aung Thu / AFP / Getty

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The Great Victory Chariot carrying the urn with the body of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej is pulled slowly during his funeral procession, on the way to the royal cremation ceremony in front of the Grand Palace, in Bangkok, Thailand, on October 26, 2017. #

Soe Zeya Tun / Reuters

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Royal Guards take part in the royal cremation ceremony near the Grand Palace on October 26, 2017. #

Damir Sagolj / Reuters

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A royal guard bows as the royal urn, carried on the Great Victory Chariot, passes on October 26, 2017. #

Damir Sagolj / Reuters

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Royal doctors take part in the funeral procession for King Bhumibol on October 26, 2017. #

Anthony Wallace / AFP / Getty

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Mourners react as the royal urn of King Bhumibol passes by during the royal cremation procession on October 26, 2017. #

Damir Sagolj / Reuters

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Royal guards march with the royal cremation procession on October 26, 2017. #

Soe Zeya Tun / Reuters

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Royal guards march with the royal cremation procession of King Bhumibol at the Grand Palace on October 26, 2017. #

Soe Zeya Tun / Reuters

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Thailand's new monarch, King Maha Vajiralongkorn, takes a part in the royal cremation procession of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej at the Grand Palace in Bangkok on October 26, 2017. #

Damir Sagolj / Reuters

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A police officer and mourners react as Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn passes by during the royal cremation procession on October 26, 2017. #

Soe Zeya Tun / Reuters

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A man watches the royal funeral on his phone near the Grand Palace in Bangkok. #

Aaron Joel Santos / Getty

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The Great Victory Chariot is pulled during the funeral procession for King Bhumibol, before the royal cremation ceremony, in front of the Grand Palace on October 26, 2017. #

Jorge Silva / Reuters

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Participants walk in the funeral procession of King Bhumibol on October 26, 2017. #

Kittinun Rodsupan / AP

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Military personnel take part in the funeral procession for the late King Bhumibol on October 26, 2017. #

Anthony Wallace / AFP / Getty

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Women hold portraits of the late king on October 26, 2017, in Bangkok, Thailand. #

Brent Lewin / Getty

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Garlands decorate the Great Victory Chariot carrying the royal urn of King Bhumibol during the royal cremation procession on October 26, 2017. #

Damir Sagolj / Reuters

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A Thai woman grieves as she watches a video screen showing the funeral of King Bhumibol on October 26, 2017, in Bangkok. #

Christopher Furlong / Getty

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Thai soldiers pull the the Great Victory Chariot with the royal urn during the funeral procession for King Bhumibol on October 26, 2017. #

Jorge Silva / Reuters

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A member of the Royal Honor Guard takes part in funeral procession in Bangkok on October 26, 2017. #

Sakchai Lalit / AP

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Thai royal guards salute the start of the royal cremation ceremony near the Grand Palace on October 26, 2017. #

Athit Perawongmetha / Reuters

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The ceremonial urn of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej arrives at the crematorium in Bangkok on October 26, 2017. #

Wason Wanichakorn / AP

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Royal guards salute the start of the royal cremation ceremony on October 26, 2017. #

Athit Perawongmetha / Reuters

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Royal guards attend the funeral procession on October 26, 2017. #

Jorge Silva / Reuters

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The ceremonial urn of King Bhumibol is transported up a ramp to the top of the royal crematorium on October 26, 2017. #

Wason Wanichakorn / AP

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Thai mourners watch a big screen during a religious ceremony on the day of the historical cremation of Thailand's King Bhumibol on October 26, 2017. #

Paula Bronstein / Getty

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The royal urn of Thailand's late King Bhumibol Adulyadej rests inside the royal crematorium near the Grand Palace in Bangkok on October 26, 2017. #

Athit Perawongmetha / Reuters

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