Royal Urn respects up before September 30 deadline
With the last date for paying respects before the Royal Urn set for September 30, a steady stream of people continued to honour the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej at the Grand Palace’s Dusit Maha Prasart Throne Hall.
The Royal Household Bureau on Sunday announced that nearly 10.7 million people had entered the throne hall to pay respect before the late king’s Royal Urn since the hall was opened to the public on October 18 last year.
Donations had reached nearly Bt790.65 million as of Friday.
Attendance has increased in recent days since the September 30 deadline was announced, the bureau said.
Government spokesperson Lt-General Sansern Kaewkamnerd on Saturday updated the public on progress toward the Royal Cremation Ceremony.
Almost all preparation is now complete, he said. Construction of the Royal Funeral Pyre is expected to be finished on schedule at the end of September.
Sansern also conveyed the thanks of Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha to all the police, soldiers, public sector workers, and volunteers who have helped put the Royal Funeral together.
Their work demonstrated their love and loyalty to the beloved King Bhumibol, Sansern quoted the PM as saying.