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.
Please enable JavaScript to view this content. Open this photo in gallery: 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
1 of 14
Open this photo in gallery: Mourners wait to go through security check for the Royal Cremation ceremony of Thailand's late King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Damir Sagolj/Reuters
2 of 14
Open this photo in gallery: People queue to attend the funeral in Bangkok. Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
3 of 14
Open this photo in gallery: A sleeping girl wears a pin with picture of Thailand's late King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Damir Sagolj/Reuters
4 of 14
Open this photo in gallery: People gather to pay their respects to Thailand's late King Bhumibol Adulyadej near the Royal Palace. Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
5 of 14
Open this photo in gallery: A bust of Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej is displayed in a shop window in Bangkok. Ted Anthony/The Associated Press
6 of 14
Open this photo in gallery: People gather at the Grand Palace as the city prepares for late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s cremation. Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
7 of 14
Open this photo in gallery: Thai people wait in the rain to take part in the Royal Cremation ceremony. Sakchai Lalit/The Associated Press
8 of 14
Open this photo in gallery: Mourners gather near a picture of Thailand's late King Bhumibol Adulyadej as they wait to attend the ceremony. Reuters
9 of 14
Open this photo in gallery: An image of the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej covers the side of a building in Bangkok. Charles Dharapak/The Associated Press
10 of 14
Open this photo in gallery: Various items adorned with the image of the late king are seen at a Bangkok shop. Roberto Schmidt/AFP / Getty Images
11 of 14
Open this photo in gallery: Visitors pose at an exhibit of paintings of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej at a shopping mall in Bangkok. Ted Anthony/The Associated Press
12 of 14
Open this photo in gallery: A large framed image of Thailand's late king Bhumibol Adulyadej is loaded into a rickshaw. Roberto Schmidt/AFP / Getty Images
13 of 14
Open this photo in gallery: Pictures of late King Bhumibol Adulyadej are seen in Bangkok. Soe Zeya Tun/Reuters
14 of 14