King of Thailand's Body Transferred to Palace as Year of Mourning Begins

Soldiers, sailors, police and thousands of Thais dressed in black kneeled or sat on the street as the procession drove by slowly. 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.

Also in the motorcade was a van, painted royal yellow, transporting the heir to the throne, Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn. Inside the grand palace, the king’s relatives will pour water over his hand in a Buddhist bathing ceremony.

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 that has seen 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, The Guardian reported.

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, loud speakers play the national anthem and people in the street are expected to stop.

The government has set up a telephone hotline to help people cope with grief.