First day of homage paying in front of Royal Urn
Today is the first day mourners are allowed to pay their final respects before the Royal Urn of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej inside the Grand Palace’s Dusit Maha Prasart Throne Hall.
Since Friday night hundreds of people kept an overnight vigil at Sanam Luang to make sure they would be among the first group to be inside. The government will allow up to 10,000 mourners into the throne hall each day but it was expected a huge crowd numbers pour in.
We are bringing you the latest updates from our reporter team.
A large number of Thai people from all walks of life line up at Sanam Luang, Bangkok on October 29 to pay their final respects before the Royal Urn of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej inside the Dusit Maha Prasart Throne Hall.
Palace officials allowed the first group of mourners queuing up since midnight into the throne hall to pay respects before the Royal Urn and the late King’s body inside the Grand Palace’s Dust Maha Prasart Throne Hall. Queue cards are available at the opposite Supreme Court from 8am.
Photos spark emotional scenes when mourners are seen in tears after they paid respects before the Royal Urn and the late King’s body inside the Grand Palace’s Dusit Maha Prasart Throne Hall and are leaving through Deva Phirom Gate on Saturday.
Shortly upon their completion of paying respects before the Royal Urn and the late King’s body, Mien tribesmen from Ban Khlong Toei in Khlong Lan District, Kamphaeng Phet walk out of the Grand Palace’s Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall, carrying portraits of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej in their hands.
People pick up “Por Piang” paddy, which is on offer for distribution to mourners.
After completion of the ceremony initiating Royal Charity Panrsm time (15 days), Royal Household Bureau officials allowed mourners to pay respects before the Royal Urn and the late King’s body inside the Grand Palace’s Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall from Saturday, October 29 onwards between 8am and 9pm (except when there is any royal ceremony at the throne hall). Queue cards are available at the opposite Supreme Court.
Thousands of mourners stand in a long queue at Sanam Luang, waiting for their turns to pay respects before the Royal Urn and the late HM King Bhumibol’s body inside the Grand Palace’s Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall. Saturday is the first day public are permitted to pay homage to the urn and the King's body.
Benjamin King, Ambassador of New Zealand to Thailand, and his family distributed Jazz apples from New Zealand to mourners at Sanam Luang Saturday morning.
Shoe-borrowing service is available at Sanam Luang for mourners who come to pay respects before the Royal Urn and the late King’s body inside the Grand Palace’s Dusit Maha Prasart Throne Hall, but are wearing improper footwear. They can borrow shoes suggested by Palace officials at the given service. Each shoe is written “borrowed” as an evidence that it will be only used on “borrowed” condition.
To have a chance of paying respects before the Royal Urn and the late King’s body inside the Grand Palace’s Dusit Maha Prasart Throne Hall on the very first day, mourners including kids, elderly persons and those with visual impairments are travelling by Chao Phraya Express Boat.
Marine Department in conjunction with Thai Shipowners’ Association and marine operators arranged free boat transportation for mourners who need to pay respects before the Royal Urn and the late King’s body inside the Grand Palace’s Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall. Surveillance ships prepared by the Marine Department and carrying 15 passengers (or 30 standing passengers) will leave Khiew Khai Ka Pier between 10am and 3pm for Phra Pinklao Pier (Thonburi) and stop at South Tha Prachan Pier. Free shuttle buses are also prepared for commuters from Tao Poon MRT Station to transfer for boat transportation. Furthermore, cruise ships also operate travelling on the same routes.
Mourners travel by Chao Pharaya River ferries to Phra Nakhon bank to pay respects before the Royal Urn and the late King’s body inside the Grand Palace’s Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall on Saturday, the very first day such an allowance is made. The Marine Department have coordinated with commuter ferries to arrange free boat transportations from South Tha Prachan Pier to Prannok Pier and Phra Pinklao Pier (Thonburi bank) to Phra Pinklao Pier (Phra Nakhon bank) to serve massive travelling mourners. Moreover, Chao Phraya Express Boat Service (Yellow Flag Line) have also prepared ferries for commuters from Sathorn Pier to Tha Chang Pier with each departing approximately every hour from 10am to 4pm. Mourners wishing to travel by their own vehicles have been asked for cooperation to travel by shuttle buses or free ferries instead due to the road closure around the Grand Palace.
Massive crowds of mourners brave rain showers at around 4pm to wait their turn patiently. Upon reaching their queue, the mourners start leaving Sanam Luang to pay respects before the Royal Urn and the late King’s body inside the Grand Palace’s Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall on Saturday, the very first day after His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej passed away on October 13. Paying homage can be made daily from 8am to 9pm.
HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn is greatly concerned about the mass crowds of mourners coming to pay respects before the Royal Urn and the late King’s body inside the Grand Palace’s Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall on Saturday. The Crown Prince graciously asked his royal guards to distribute desserts including tapioca balls with pork filling and royally-bestowed drinking water to mourners waiting for their queue at Sanam Luang.
Mourners dressed inappropriately have nothing to worry about when they arrive at Sanam Luang in an effort of paying respects before the Royal Urn and the late King’s body inside the Grand Palace’s Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall. The black clothes changing service has been set up at adjacent Sanam Luang for mourners to change their clothes to make sure they are dressed appropriately prior to entering the Grand Palace.
Huge crowds of mourners have arrived at Sanam Luang since Saturday afternoon to pay respects before the Royal Urn and the late King’s body inside the Grand Palace’s Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall. Saturday is the very first day the mourners are allowed after His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej passed away on October 13. However, paying homage can be made daily from 8am to 9pm, except when there is any royal ceremony at the throne hall.
At 6.30pm, massive crowds of mourners still stand in long lines at Sanam Luang, patiently waiting their turn to enter the Grand Palace’s Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall to pay respects before the Royal Urn and the late King’s body. Police and security guards keep watchful eyes on them to provide safety and maintain tidiness along the lines to avoid line jumpers because of no availability of queue cards made. The government suggested mourners who make a decision to come on early days that they either delay their plan or change their schedule as paying homage is still open publicly for long, long time.
A sudden flash of thunderbolt is seen in the sky above the Royal Grand Palace at around 9pm of Saturday, as rains still shower at the vicinity.
Mourners brave heavy downpour and a stroke of lightning to patiently wait their turn to pay respects before the Royal Urn and the late King’s body inside the Grand Palace’s Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall.
