Bangkok hosts first on-site rehearsals for Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother's royal funeral processions

Thailand's First Army Region conducted its first on-site rehearsals of the royal funeral processions for Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother on Saturday (October 31), covering ceremonial routes around the Grand Palace, Sanam Luang and several important temples in Bangkok.

The programme included rehearsals for processions 1, 2 and 3 in the morning, followed by procession 6 in the afternoon and evening.

Four further rehearsals are scheduled for November and December as preparations continue for the Royal Cremation Ceremony.

Morning rehearsals cover three royal processions

The morning programme ran from 6.30am to noon, with three processions rehearsing the ceremonial transfer of the Royal Urn.

Procession 1 (7am–9am) involved carrying the Royal Urn aboard the Phra Yannamas Sam Lam Khan, a traditional three-pole royal palanquin, from Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall to the area in front of Wat Phra Chetuphon Wimon Mangkhalaram, commonly known as Wat Pho.

The route followed Maha Rat Road and Thai Wang Road, with designated photography locations in front of the Royal Thai Navy Club and along Maha Rat Road.

Procession 2 (7.30am–10am) rehearsed the transfer of the Royal Urn aboard the Phra Maha Phichai Ratcharot, or Great Victory Royal Chariot, from Wat Pho to the Royal Crematorium at Sanam Luang.

The procession followed Sanam Chai Road and Ratchadamnoen Nai Road. Photography locations were designated in front of the Territorial Defence Command and along Sanam Chai Road.

Procession 3 (10am–11.30am) involved carrying the Royal Urn in a ceremonial procession around the Royal Crematorium at Sanam Luang.

The designated photography area for this rehearsal was along Ratchadamnoen Nai Road.

Afternoon rehearsal covers the Grand Palace and two temples

The afternoon and evening programme focuses on Procession 6, with the main rehearsal scheduled from 3.30pm to 7.30pm and preliminary activities beginning at 2pm.

Between 2pm and 4pm, personnel rehearse along Rachini Road before the procession moves from the Territorial Defence Command to the Grand Palace between 4pm and 4.20pm, following Sanam Chai Road and Na Phra Lan Road.

From 5pm to 5.25pm, the procession is scheduled to travel from the Grand Palace to Wat Ratchabophit Sathitmahasimaram via Na Phra Lan Road, Kanlayana Maitri Road and Atsadang Road.

The next stage, from 5.45pm to 6.15pm, takes the procession from Wat Ratchabophit to Wat Bowonniwet Vihara.

This section follows Atsadang Road, Ratchabophit Road, Fueang Nakhon Road, Bamrung Mueang Road, Kanlayana Maitri Road, Sanam Chai Road, Ratchadamnoen Nai Road, Ratchadamnoen Klang Road, Dinso Road and Phra Sumen Road.

The final stage, scheduled between 6.30pm and 7pm, involves moving from Wat Bowonniwet Vihara to Royal Thai Army Headquarters via Wisut Kasat Road.

Four further rehearsals scheduled

Following the first on-site rehearsal, the First Army Region has scheduled four additional sessions at Sanam Luang.

The second rehearsal will take place on November 15, followed by the third on November 22.

Two full-scale rehearsals are then planned for December 6 and December 12 to further prepare the ceremonial processions for the Royal Cremation Ceremony.