Final Cremation Ceremonies Begin (Updated) 26 Oct 2017 at 09:30

Final cremation ceremonies begin (Updated) 26 Oct 2017 at 09:30

The Royal Crematorium is lit up before the start of the royal cremation ceremony on Thursday. (Photo by Seksan Rojjanametakun)The royal urn is lifted into the royal crematorium at Sanam Luang, Bangkok, shortly before 3pm on Thursday. (Photo by Patipat Janthong)

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.

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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.

Full report tomorrow morning.

19:50 update Final cremation ceremonies begin

Online reporters

His Majesty the King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun has presided over the rites to begin the royal cremation ceremony for the late King Bhumibol.

HM the King ascended the royal crematorium at around 7pm to place funeral flowers, followed by the Supreme Patriarch and senior monks, as well as royalty and foreign dignitaries.

The present and former prime ministers, representatives of all administrative, legislative and judicial branches, diplomats and religious leaders based in Bangkok also took part in the ceremony.

Earlier, a religious rite was held at 5.30pm at the Song Dhamma Throne Hall where monks gave sermons.

The cremation ceremony was held after the ceremonial urn was placed in the royal crematorium.

HM the King will perform another religious rite around 8.30pm with other royal family members in preparation for the cremation at 10pm, when the fire is lit.

16:45 update

The royal urn is lifted into the royal crematorium at Sanam Luang, Bangkok, shortly before 3pm on Thursday. (Photo by Patipat Janthong)

Late king's urn placed in royal crematorium

Online reporters

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.

Photo by Phrakrit Juntawong

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 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. An elderly mourner holds up a photo of her beloved late King. (Photo by Patipat Janthong)

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.

15:00 update

Photos from the morning procession by Apichit Jinakul

11:00am update

HM the King begins ceremony for King Bhumibol cremation

Online reporters

Officials pay their respects the late King Bhumibol before the royal urn in a ceremony presided over by His Majesty the King on Thursday. (TV Pool photo) 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 funeral procession of the late King Bhumibol moves from the Grand Palace to the ceremonial ground at Sanam Luang on Thursday, after a merit-making ceremony presided over by His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun. (AP photo)

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. Crowds of mourners stretch back as far as one can see on Ratchadamnoen Road. All were heading Wednesday to Sanam Luang, the site of the royal cremation of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Sanam Luang and surrounding areas were packed with people who want even a brief look at the historic event as the nation bids last farewell to the late King. (Photo by Pattarapong Chatpattarasill )

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 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.