Earlier in the day, soldiers, sailors, police and thousands of other Thais dressed in black knelt or sat on the street as the king’s body was driven from the hospital where he died on Thursdayacross the Chao Praya river to the grand palace in the centre of the city.
As a sign of deference, all Thais – including prime ministers – make sure they remain physically below members of the monarchy. Many people sobbed as the cars passed, holding their hands in prayer.
the Emerald Buddha inside the palace complex for an undisclosed duration, to allow people to pay their respects. No date has been set for the cremation.
Thais have been wearing dark colours, websites have turned black and white, and television channels have been switched to royal broadcasts since the death of Bhumibol, who was the world’s longest-serving monarch and a rare source of stability in a country where there have been more than a dozen coups since he ascended to the throne in 1946 at the age of 18.
Many Thai newspapers were published without colour on Friday, including the English-language Nation paper, which was completely devoted to the life of the king:
Troops and armoured vehicles have been deployed around Bangkok’s old quarters since late on Thursday.
What will happen next after the death of Thailand's king?
Thailand’s prime minister, Prayuth Chan-ocha, said in a nationally televised address minutes after the palace announced the death of the king that people were to avoid “festivities” for 30 days. The state sector will observe a year of mourning, under which civil servants are ordered to wear black.
Bhumibol was a daily presence in the life of Thais. His official portrait hangs in almost every restaurant, house and office. At cinemas, people stand for the royal anthem before films. And each morning and evening, loudspeakers play the national anthem and people in the street are expected to stop.
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