On the picture HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, Prime Minister of Bahrain, former German President Christian Wulff, HM Queen Mathilde of the Belgians, HM Queen Máxima of the Netherlands.
By Henri Estramant.
26 October 2017, Bangkok, Kingdom of Thailand: One year after the enlightenment of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX) of Thailand, cremation and funerary rituals for the erstwhile longest reigning monarch were complete at the Grand Palace, after five days of national mourning and ceremonies to celebrate the late king’s life.
Presiding over the Buddhist ceremonies and the cremation was his only son and successor, HM King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun (Rama X). Subsequently the ashes of King Rama IX were transferred by the Sovereign to a Buddhist temple holding the mortal remains of members of the Chakri Dynasty. Whereas his bones remain in a separate urn at a private hall inside the Grand Palace.
King Bhumibol Adulyadej was 88 years old at the time of his enlightenment, and reigned for over 70 years. According to tradition the spirit of the Hindu deity Rama inhabits the reigning Thai monarch’s body. The cremation paves the way for King Vajiralongkorn’s coronation.
The funeral ceremonies were attended by royalty, heads of state and government as well as their representatives from around the globe. From the Benelux countries, HM Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, HM Queen Mathilde of the Belgians and HRH The Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume of Luxembourg attended. Germany was represented by former President Christian Wulff and France by erstwhile Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault.
For further information:
Funeral cremation’s official website:
http://kingrama9.net/en/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWhz1Qs2pPY