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Thousands have gathered in Bangkok to participate in a five-day funeral ceremony for the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej. The funeral begins today with a Buddhist religious ceremony attended by senior members of the royal family. King Bhumibol, who died last year aged 88, will be cremated on Thursday on a royal pyre within a cremation complex of gold pavilions in front of Bangkok’s Grand Palace, in a ceremony that is expected to draw about 250,000 mourners.

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A woman holds a portrait of Thailand's late King Bhumibol Adulyadej as mourners wait for tomorrow's Royal Cremation ceremony near the Grand Palace.Damir Sagolj/Reuters

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Mourners wait to go through security check for the Royal Cremation ceremony of Thailand's late King Bhumibol Adulyadej.Damir Sagolj/Reuters

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People queue to attend the funeral in Bangkok.Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

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A sleeping girl wears a pin with picture of Thailand's late King Bhumibol Adulyadej.Damir Sagolj/Reuters

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People gather to pay their respects to Thailand's late King Bhumibol Adulyadej near the Royal Palace.Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

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A bust of Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej is displayed in a shop window in Bangkok.Ted Anthony/The Associated Press

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People gather at the Grand Palace as the city prepares for late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s cremation.Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

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Thai people wait in the rain to take part in the Royal Cremation ceremony.Sakchai Lalit/The Associated Press

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Mourners gather near a picture of Thailand's late King Bhumibol Adulyadej as they wait to attend the ceremony.Reuters

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An image of the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej covers the side of a building in Bangkok.Charles Dharapak/The Associated Press

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Various items adorned with the image of the late king are seen at a Bangkok shop.Roberto Schmidt/AFP / Getty Images

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Visitors pose at an exhibit of paintings of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej at a shopping mall in Bangkok.Ted Anthony/The Associated Press

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A large framed image of Thailand's late king Bhumibol Adulyadej is loaded into a rickshaw.Roberto Schmidt/AFP / Getty Images

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Pictures of late King Bhumibol Adulyadej are seen in Bangkok.Soe Zeya Tun/Reuters

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