Cremation Ceremony of King Bhumibol Adulyadej; 26 October 2017


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The list of the dignitaries is impressive. I am surprised that Mrs Matviyenko, the Chairperson of the Council of the Federation, does not represent Russian Federation.
 
Final list of foreign dignitaries

1. Lesotho : Their Majesties King Letsie III and Queen Masenate Mohato Seeiso
2. Bhutan : Their Majesties King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Queen Ashi Jetsun Pema Wangchuck
3. Tonga : Their Majesties King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipau’u
4. Myanmar : President U Htin Kyaw and his wife; Su Su Lwin
5. Laos : President Bounnhang Vorachith and wife Khammueng Vorachith
6. Singapore : President Madam Halimah Yacob and husband Mohamed Abdullah Alhabsee
7. Sweden : HM Queen Silvia
8. Netherlands : HM Queen Maxima
9. Belgium : HM Queen Mathilde
10. Spain : HM Queen Sofia
11. Australia : General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove and Lady Cosgrove
12. Canada : The Right Honourable Madame Julie Payette
13. Indonesia : Former president Megawati Soekarnoputri
14. Swiss Confederation : Former president Joseph Deiss
15. Germany : Former president Christian Wulff
16. Bahrain : Prime Minister Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa
17. Denmark : HRH Crown Prince Frederik
18. Norway : HRH Crown Prince Haakon Magnus
19. Luxembourg : Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume Jean Joseph Marie
20. Malaysia : HRH the Sultan of Perak Darul Ridzuan Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah Al-Maghfur-Lah and HRH Tuanku Zara Salim the Raja Permaisuri of Perak Darul Ridzuan
21. United Kingdom : HRH Prince Andrew, Duke of York
22. Japan : HIH Prince Akishino and HIH Princess Akishino
23. Qatar : HH Prince Thani bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani
24. Liechtenstein : HRH Princess Margaretha
25. Vietnam : Deputy President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh
26. Cambodia : Prime Minister Hun Sen
27. Swaziland : Prime Minister Barnabas Sibusiso Dlamini
28. New Zealand : Former prime minister James Bolger
29. France : Former prime minister Jean-Marc Ayrault and wife Brigitte Ayrault
30. China : Vice prime minister H.E. Mr. Zhang Gaoli
31. Turkey : Deputy Prime Minister Fikri Işik
32. Korea : Vice National Assembly Speaker Park Joosun
33. Russia : Deputy chairperson of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Olga Epifanova
34. Brunei : PM’s Office Minister, Second Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Pehin Dato Lim Jock Seng
35. United States of America : Secretary of Defence James Mattis
36. Philippines : Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter S. Cayetano and wife Maria Laarni Cayetano
37. Sri Lanka : Foreign Minister Tilak Marapana and wife Stella Marapana
38. Nepal : Defence Minister Bhimsen Das Pradhan and wife Bidya Banmali Pradhan
39. Pakistan : Power Minister Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari
40. Bangladesh : Foreign Minister Mohammed Sahriar Alam
41. India : Deputy Foreign Minister M J Akbar
42. The Holy See : Apostolic Nuncio to India and Nepal Archbishop Giambattista Diquattro

Royal Family
Representative of Royal Family

Latest list of foreign guests to attend the Royal Cremation ceremony
 
Osipi said:
Its not the dignitaries in attendance that stands out for me nor is it the pomp and the circumstance and the splendor of the cremation ceremony itself that stands out for me but rather the entire process of what happens when a King of Thailand dies.

We live in a world where someone dies, there is a funeral and then life goes on. To actively witness how Thailand does it over a year's period of time with all the merit making ceremonies, the specific building of a glorious building specifically for the cremation and even the measured, slow paced steps of those in the funereal procession shows to me a deep respect and remembrance of a person that has passed on from our world into the next. It puts a huge emphasis on the spiritual aspect of a person and a deep belief that those that remain can and do actively assist a soul's passage into the afterlife and its continuation.

It really makes me wish that more of our world would take the time and the energies to be more focused on the spiritual aspects of themselves. I will be watching and following the cremation ceremony as much as I possibly can and hopefully with my thoughts centered on the late King Bhumibol, although I've never met him nor know too much about him as a man, my thoughts will mesh with those of Thailand and gently send this soul home.
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I too find great wonder in the funeral. And all the great ceremony that goes into it. I watch with great interest at traditions I have never seen.

But I don't believe that western funerals show any lack of spirituality or reverence. There is great ceremony and reverence in a church funeral in Europe, especially among the more religious royal families. It doesn't require a year of planning and building. And just like you no longer need to wear black for a year as a sign of mourning, mourning doesn't end with a funeral. I'd be slightly bothered if someone I knew was left unburied, seems unnatural IMO. While I truly respect Thai traditions and am doing my best to learn more in the lead up to the funeral, I also don't see it as something needing to be adopted. A constant state or mourning for a year is not needed to lead him to the after life.

But I watch with great interest. And I hope for the people of Thailand, and the members of the royal family, that these great traditions bring them the closure they need.
 
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Countessmeout said:
A constant state or mourning for a year is not needed to lead him to the after life.
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A year long period before HM's cremation is out of necessity for construction of royal crematorium. Period for cremation of Rama VIII was even longer, 4 years after his death.
 
Tona22 said:
Final list of foreign dignitaries


11. Australia : General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove and Lady Cosgrove
12. Canada : The Right Honourable Madame Julie Payette
Click to expand...

Who are they?
 
^^ Governor-General of Australia and newly appointed Governor-General of Canada
 
Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana attended the final rehearsal for the cremation ceremony in Bangkok.

PPE Agency
 
Biri said:
Who are they?
Click to expand...

The Governor General of Australia and his wife, and the new Governor General of Canada. The Governor General is the Queen's representative in a Commonwealth realm and plays the role of de facto acting Head of State when the Queen is not physically present in the realm, which is most of the time actually.
 
I've been watching the live Thai TV feed off and on all day and I have a question.

What is the significance of those floral wreaths that are presented to the dignitaries attending? I first noticed them here in a picture of little Prince Jigme of Bhutan and then saw other dignitaries being presented with them.
 
I too have watched some of the ceremonies today..

SO much of it is deeply arcane and mystifying. I wish there was a David Dimbleby to explain the finer details !
 
I know what you mean, wyevale. Everything has meaning to it even to the planting of the flowers around the shrines that have been set up.
 
Osipi said:
I've been watching the live Thai TV feed off and on all day and I have a question.

What is the significance of those floral wreaths that are presented to the dignitaries attending? I first noticed them here in a picture of little Prince Jigme of Bhutan and then saw other dignitaries being presented with them.
Click to expand...

The floral wreaths you referred to are Thai floral garlands called Phuang malai (พวงมาลัย). It is commonly used as a gift, souvernir or offering.
Phuang Malai: Thai Floral Garlands
Click to expand...

Live coverage of royal procession transporting royal urn to the crematorium (part 1) has began:

 
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Sorry of a late post, these are updates from yesterday events as reported by Thai media.

HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn received HM Queen Sofia at the grand palace:

link

Arrival of Their Majesties the Kings and Queens of Tonga, Bhutan and Lesotho:

link
 
Arrival of HRH Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa of Bahrain:
http://www.mfa.go.th/main/contents/images/news3_other-20171024-171016-0.jpg
http://www.mfa.go.th/main/contents/images/news3_other-20171024-171017-1.jpg
http://www.mfa.go.th/main/contents/images/news3_other-20171024-171018-2.jpg

Arrival of HE Sheikh Thani bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani of Qatar:
http://www.mfa.go.th/main/contents/images/news3_other-20171026-041313-0.jpg
http://www.mfa.go.th/main/contents/images/news3_other-20171026-041313-1.jpg

Arrival of HRH the Sultan and HRH the Raja Permaisuri of Perak:
http://www.mfa.go.th/main/contents/images/news3_other-20171026-041555-0.jpg
http://www.mfa.go.th/main/contents/images/news3_other-20171026-041555-1.jpg

Arrival of HIH Prince Akishino and HIH Princess Akishino of Japan:
http://www.mfa.go.th/main/contents/images/news3_other-20171026-091455-0.jpg

Arrival of HM Queen Silvia of Sweden:
http://www.mfa.go.th/main/contents/images/news3_other-20171026-091654-0.jpg
http://www.mfa.go.th/main/contents/images/news3_other-20171026-091654-1.jpg
http://www.mfa.go.th/main/contents/images/news3_other-20171026-091654-2.jpg

Arrival of HRH Crown Prince Haakon of Norway:
http://www.mfa.go.th/main/contents/images/news3_other-20171026-091916-0.jpg
http://www.mfa.go.th/main/contents/images/news3_other-20171026-091916-1.jpg

Arrival of HM Queen Mathilde of the Belgians:
http://www.mfa.go.th/main/contents/images/news3_other-20171026-094309-0.jpg
http://www.mfa.go.th/main/contents/images/news3_other-20171026-094309-1.jpg
 
Its amazing seeing the people gathered. And not just waiting hours but camped out for a place to watch. The grief is evident in every photo. He was obviously quite loved king. :sad:

I had to smile though with the arrival of the Bhutanese royals. Little Jigme always brings a huge smile to my face.

I hate to say I am excited by a funeral. Excited is likely bad word. But I am really enjoying seeing this and watching it unfold.
 
That’s the biggest urn I have ever seen. I was really amazed on how they constructed the outer pieces on the urn together. The procession was beautiful.
 
The king will be greatly missed for many years to come. His reign and contributions to the people over the past 7 decades will be fondly remembered, the reign that we've seen great social and economic transformations of our kingdom. For sure, there will be no king like him, my beloved king.

Live coverage of royal procession transporting royal urn to the crematorium (part 2):

 
Dman said:
That’s the biggest urn I have ever seen. I was really amazed on how they constructed the outer pieces on the urn together. The procession was beautiful.
Click to expand...

Indeed. I believe traditionally its because the body would have been in the urn, in a sitting position (someone correct me if I read wrong). The king though is in a western style coffin, but the traditional urn (size and all) is still present.

But the procession is stunning.:flowers:
 
The Funeral Procession is still ongoing at Sanam Luang. Then what time the Cremation will begin and when the foreign guests will be arriving on the site?
 
Ephram said:
The Funeral Procession is still ongoing at Sanam Luang. Then what time the Cremation will begin and when the foreign guests will be arriving on the site?
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Official cremation start at 5.30 (ceremony start at 4.30) and actual cremation at 10 (start 8.30)

The official cremation is not real, the real cremation is the later one.
 
Arrival of HRH Prince Guillaume, Grand Duke of Luxembourg:
http://www.mfa.go.th/main/contents/images/news3_other-20171026-143305-0.jpg
http://www.mfa.go.th/main/contents/images/news3_other-20171026-143305-1.jpg
http://www.mfa.go.th/main/contents/images/news3_other-20171026-143305-2.jpg

Hundred of thousand of people joined the event and laid sandalwood flowers at royal crematorium replicas and designated sites across Thailand:
[1], [2], [3], [4] (live twitter feed)

Official (symbolic) royal cremation ceremony begins at 16:30 hr. (GMT+7) and actual royal cremation ceremony begins at 22:00 hr. (GMT+7):

Royal art performances and public festivities marking the official ending of mourning period:
Part one begins at 18:00 hr. (GMT+7; October 26)​
 
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