A year-long funeral for Thailand’s Queen Sirikit, who recently passed away at the age of 93, has now formally begun. 

The Thai Royal Household Bureau said the Queen had been hospitalised since 2019 due to several illnesses and developed a bloodstream infection on October 17 before passing away late on Friday, October 24.

Her body will now lie in state at the seat of the Thai royalty for one year before she is cremated. 

Year-long funeral starts for Thailand

Earlier today, her body was slowly taken from Chulalongkorn Hospital in Bangkok to the city’s Grand Palace as part of a miles-long procession that was flanked by outriders. 

Mourners bowed as the convoy passed, while ranks of police officers fell to one knee.  

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on Saturday that flags would be flown at half-mast for 30 days out of respect for the late Queen.

Government workers would be required to wear mourning attire for one year, he said, while the public ‘may adjust as appropriate, but we are asking for cooperation to wear black or dark colours for 90 days’. 

Year-long funeral starts for Thailand

Queen Sirikit had been out of the public eye since a stroke in 2012.

Sirikit’s husband, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, was Thailand’s longest-reigning monarch, with 70 years on the throne since 1946. 

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