Thailand's new king picked bits of bone and ash from his father's remains to be enshrined as royal relics as part of an elaborate five-day funeral for the much-loved late King Bhumibol Adulyadej – also known as King Rama IX. His son, King Maha Vajiralongkorn, participated in a religious ceremony to collect the ashes and relics of his father to be moved to special locations for further Buddhist rites.
King Maha Vajiralongkorn picks bits of bone and ash from his father's remains to be enshrined as royal relicsAFP
Smoke rose just before midnight on Thursday from the spectacularly ornate crematorium built in the year since King Bhumibol Adulyadej died. Thai television broadcast pictures of Vajiralongkorn bathing Bhumibol's relics — charred bones — and placing them in golden reliquary urns. He sprinkled the bones with sacred water as classical Thai music played. The remains were blessed by Thailand's Supreme Patriarch, the head of the order of Buddhist monks.
The ashes and bones were then placed on a royal palanquin and carried to the Grand Palace, where he had lain in state since his death last October.
On the final day of the funeral, the relics will be enshrined in part of a Grand Palace throne hall known as the "Heavenly Abode", and the ashes will be enshrined at two temples, Wat Rajabopidh and Wat Bovoranives, in Bangkok.
A soldier salutes in front of the Royal Crematorium during the funeral for the late King Bhumibol AdulyadejDamir Sagolj/ReutersA fire is lit under the urn inside the royal crematoriumAthit Perawongmetha/ReutersArtillery guns are fired near the cremation grounds where the body of the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej was taken to be crematedAnthony Wallace/AFPSmoke rises from the main pavilion of the cremation site as the body of late King Bhumibol Adelyadej is crematedAFPMourners line up to offer sandalwood flowersSoe Zeya Tun/ReutersThai King Maha Vajiralongkorn sorts through the ashes of his father after he was crematedAnthony Wallace/AFPThe royal relics and ashes of Thailand's late King Bhumibol Adulyadej are carried by an official during a procession to transfer his relics and ashes from the crematorium to the Grand Palace in BangkokAthit Perawongmetha/ReutersThe royal relics and ashes of Thailand's late King Bhumibol Adulyadej are placed onto a palanquin to be transported from the crematorium to the Grand Palace in BangkokAthit Perawongmetha/ReutersOne of the royal doctors holds an urn containing the ashes of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej aboard a royal palanquinJorge Silva/ReutersA royal palanquin carrying the ashes of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej is carried towards the Grand PalaceLillian Suwanrumpha/AFPA royal palanquin is carried by soldiers from the crematorium to the Grand PalaceJorge Silva/ReutersKing Maha Vajiralongkorn marches behind the palanquin carrying the ashes of his father, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, during the funeral processionDamir Sagolj/Reuters(Left to right) Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, Princess Ubolratana, Thai Princess Bajrakitiyabha and Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana follow the ashes of the late kingAnthony Wallace/AFPA royal guard bows during a procession to transfer the royal relics and ashes of Thailand's late King Bhumibol Adulyadej from the crematorium to the Grand PalaceDamir Sagolj/ReutersMourners prostrate themselves as the royal family marches past behind the urn containing the relics and ashes of the late King Bhumibol AdulyadejRoberto Schmidt/AFPMourners cry and pray during a procession to transfer the royal relics and ashes of Thailand's late King Bhumibol Adulyadej from the crematorium to the Grand Palace in BangkokDamir Sagolj/ReutersMourners lining the roadside prostrate themselves during the funeral procession of King Bhumibol Adulyadej in BangkokAnthony Wallace/AFPA procession to transfer the relics and royal ashes of Thailand's late King Bhumibol Adulyadej arrives at the Grand Palace after the cremation ceremonyJorge Silva/Reuters
