i'm rico hizon in singapore — welcome to special coverage of the funeral of thailand's king. hundreds of thousands of mourners have converged on the capital — bangkok — for a five—day buddhist ceremony. i'm jonathan head live at the funeral procession — there are still long lines of people hoping for a chance to get into the cremation area and see a final farewell to the late king. welcome to newsday where it's 8am in singapore and 7am in the thai capital bangkok, where hundreds of thousands of mourners have converged on the city — many camping on the streets — to bid farewell to thailand's revered king bhumibol adulyadej.

a funeral procession is about to begin and the cremation will take place at the end of the day, as part of a five—day buddhist funeral ceremony. these are live pictures from central bangkok. elaborate preparations — including the construction of a vast cremation complex — have taken almost a year. hundreds of thousands of people are gathering ready for royal cremation day. they want to pay their last respects to their revered king bhumibol adulyadej. so let's take a look at the late king's finaljourney, as his people prepare to honour him. a total of six processions are involved in the funeral in bangkok. the first three take place on thursday, starting at the dusit maha prasat

throne hall inside the grand palace. from there the royal urn will be carried on a large palanquin with three poles, travelling around the grand palace to the wat pho temple complex. there, the urn will be transferred to the royal chariot of great victory, which was built during the reign of king rama in the 17905 and has been used to carry royals ever since. the elaborate pavilion throne will then travel nearly 900 metres over about two hours to the royal crematorium. there, the royal urn will be loaded into a cannon—equipped chariot, and the procession will circle the crematorium three times in an anti—clockwise direction. people holding pictures of their late king. joining me from bangkok is our correspondentjonathan head.

jonathan, hundreds of thousands of people lining the streets to pay their last respects to the late king bhumibol adulyadej, why is this so important to the people? there are two events going on of sorts, this is the possession which is hierarchical arranged at a great expense and effort by the military government, this is probably a kilometre away from the cremation site where i am, these people have been waiting for at least a day, some longer, the ones behind me now have been told they have very little

chance of getting into the cremation area and yet they all want to stay. there is a sense of an informal family atmosphere here, an entire nation sharing a moment with somebody that they have felt a personal affection for and to the credit with overseeing the modern development of their country and maintaining its stability in a very turbulent region and particularly in decades gone by when the cold war was active here. a lot of people here have always associated everything good that has happened in thailand with king bhumibol, i had the chance to speak to one of his relatives, a great—granddaughter of his grandfather and i asked her what it meant to her. jonathan, as a follow—up to what i asked, we

described basically the elaborate funeral procession, why is the monarchy so important to the people of thailand and this king in particular? the monarchy has been in thailand for hundreds of years. it has been a feature of life here, other countries in this region have had monarchies and they have disappeared or become less important. during the cold war the monarchy was very much used to stabilise the country and extend the authority of the state out into the regions of thailand. thailand was a front line in the cold war, you had the vietnam war, the civil war in cambodia, all sorts of problems. people believe, the military here believe the monarchy is essential to maintaining social order. you should bearin maintaining social order. you should bear in mind the very tight restrictions on criticising the monarchy or questioning it mean that

those who do doubt the system their voices cannot be heard, there is a risk of prison and especially at the moment nobody is dissenting from the view that king bhumibol adulyadej gave this country almost everything that has benefited them. having said that, he had modest habits. he had a west are now bringing, came to the monarchy at the engine of 18, unexpectedly becoming king abdullah bin of his life in europe with a different outlook from many living here. he tried in his own words to bea here. he tried in his own words to be a useful king, to try to play constructive role in bringing his people from what was at one stage an agricultural backwater to being a pretty economy today. whatever the judgment finally on the effects of his rule, people here are grateful that he took the trouble, that he was a godlike king with godlike status but he clearly wanted to do things for ordinary people. this is

a significant event for the thai people but what does it mean for the government and political system 7 that's a big question right now. because the monarchy has been put centrestage, viewed as essential to stability it angers a network of elite factions who have always relied on proximity to the monarchy to give them legitimacy. everything changes because you have to understand the modern monarchy built around the image of king bhumibol adulyadej, this virtuous man who is to have voted to all the projects he was interested in, sometimes it feels like the monarchy are here because they have such intense feelings. it is a cult around the king, people focusing all of their love for the monarchy on this man who was on the throne for 71 years. so there are big questions about what happens in a fast changing either, are very different monarch on the throne, king maha vajiralongkorn has ta ken on the throne, king maha vajiralongkorn has taken the throne

in his 605. he's a very different personality, we are not free to talk about him here because of these laws but it will be a very different monarch. he's made it clear he wants to be an active monarch and have a significant influence on political develop mint and i think people recognise this is a historic turning point for the country. there is any of some anxiety and uncertainty about what will happen thailand now. thanks for the update, we have to leave it there are now. jonathan will be back for more on the funeral possession later on. herve lemahieu is a research fellow from think tank the lowy in5titute for international policy — hejoins me now from sydney. thank you so much forjoining u5, tell us, how did the late king achieve the power that he did both politically and also in the hearts of the people? you are right, it is

a double achievement because when he came to power, when he took the throne in 19116 the institution of the monarchy wa5 throne in 19116 the institution of the monarchy was much weaker than it i5 the monarchy was much weaker than it is now so he consolidated his power behind the scenes. he really focused on what is known as the sort of network monarchy, consolidating allegiances and pitch image within the military, within thejudiciary leadership, within the bureaucracy but more than that he project is his image buckle on the palace walls and into the hearts and minds of the people. and an president did of doing so. it remains to be seen if that can be repeated again the next generation. but he did that because he coincided with thailand's development, thailand wa5 sub5tituent5 economy, it's now in middle income country, the second largest economy in southeast asia.

there was a rise in prosperity and he e5pou5ed develop mint project5 which lifted million5 he e5pou5ed develop mint project5 which lifted millions of people out of poverty. people thank him for that, not only the development agenda but also the degree of political stability he lent that period. do you think the new king well inherit the same kind of public revere nce well inherit the same kind of public reverence a5 well inherit the same kind of public reverence as his father? the problem i5 reverence as his father? the problem is it was a very personified monarchy under king bhumibol adulyadej and the people have an affection for him in particular and le55 affection for him in particular and less so for the institution and perhap5 less so for the institution and perhaps the rest of the royal badly. so what this is about really above and beyond just pomp and ceremony it's about genuine affection and grief by the people but it's a very dull political moment. —— very delicate political moment. it's about sending the message that the new king has the constitutional authority as monarch but the

tra n5fer of authority as monarch but the transfer of that kind of moral, 5piritual, charismatic authority from father to son takes place today and that is why it is symbolically important. saw the political landscape, the change in thailand with the new king7 landscape, the change in thailand with the new king? yes, the new king also coincides with the new political period 5aw also coincides with the new political period saw it in the context of a very wet call it brutal tran5ition led context of a very wet call it brutal tra nsition led by context of a very wet call it brutal tran5ition led by a military government, we have a new constitution in place and the military is promising election by the end of the year. but the military needs the monarchy more than ever to lend it a degree of legitimacy, to lend the transition a degree of legitimacy. in a way this i5a degree of legitimacy. in a way this is a mutual survival pact between the monarchy and the military government and the prime minister is nothing if not a realist in that 5en5e. nothing if not a realist in that sense. he has taken this one—year mourning period to behind—the—scenes

let the tectonic plate5 settle in the changing monarchy to bind all the changing monarchy to bind all the divisions between the privy council which was very loyal to king bhumibol adulyadej with the new king and new appointments. the king himself, he has been very a55ertive behind his scenes, making changes to the constitution which augment his constitutional powers and in that 5ense constitutional powers and in that sense i think we are seeing the birth of a new alliance between military and monarchy and this has taken place behind the scenes at the level of elite thailand politics. will have to leave it there, thank you very much for your insights. you're watching newsday on the bbc. still to come on the programme... a flavour of what it's like to be a member of the thai royal family. we'll bring you an exclusive interview with a relative of the late king bhumibol.

gandhl gandhi, ruler of the world's largest democracy did today, only yesterday 5he democracy did today, only yesterday she had spoken of dying in the 5ervice she had spoken of dying in the service of her country and said i would be proud of it, everyjob of my blood will contribute to the growth of this nation. after 46 years of unhappiness these two countries having concluded a chapter of history. no more suspicion, no more fear. no more uncertainty. left off with a crew of six astronaut heroes and one american legend. this is beautiful. a milestone in human history, born

today this girl in india is the 7,000,000,000th per5on today this girl in india is the 7,000,000,000th person on the planet. this is newsday on the bbc. i'm rico hizon in singapore. special coverage of the funeral of the king of thailand. funeral ceremonies are continuing in bangkok for the late thai king bhumibol adulyadej — who'll be cremated later on thursday. hundreds of thousands of mourners have converged on bangkok for the ceremonies — many camping on the streets in their determination to pay their last respects. let's go to live picture5 let's go to live pictures as we ci’oss let's go to live pictures as we cross to bangkok. hundreds of thousand5 cross to bangkok. hundreds of thousands of people are gathering

ready for royal cremation day. it's a funeral procession that's about to very soon. the cremation will take place at the end of the day, the culmination of a five—day buddhist funeral ceremony. elaborate preparations concluding the construction of a vast cremation complex have ta ken construction of a vast cremation complex have taken place almost a year. a total of six processions are involved in this funeral, the first three taking place on thursday. starting at the dusit maha pra5at throne hall inside the grand palace. from there the royal urn will be carried on a large palanquin with three poles, travelling around the grand palace to the wat pho temple complex. it will be his final journey.

the urn will be transferred to the royal chariot of great victory, which was built during the reign of king rama in the 17905 and has been used to carry royals ever since. the elaborate pavilion throne will then travel nearly 900 metres over about two hours to the royal crematorium. thousand5 thousands of people lining up on the 5treet5 thousands of people lining up on the streets of bangkok. joining me now via webcam from manila is kevin villanueva, professor of international politics at the university of the philippines vi5aya5. thank you forjoining u5, thank you forjoining us, we have ju5t thank you forjoining us, we have just described the elaborate preparation for this funeral

procession, tell us, is there anything behind this pomp and circum5tance anything behind this pomp and circumstance or is itju5t an occasion for public mourning and healing of the thailand people7|j think healing of the thailand people?” think it is both. king bhumibol adulyadej has not just think it is both. king bhumibol adulyadej has notjust been a monarch, he has brought hearts to the monarchy because from a 5oft—5poken withdrawn man he took on the throne and visited the rural folk and initially the project which would have otherwise not been initiated by the elites of bangkok and thailand so what we see here is not simply pomp and circumstance but ina way not simply pomp and circumstance but in a way paying their last re5pects in the most extravagant but also in the most ceremoniou5 way possible.

befitting a king who has lived an exemplary life. and now, kevin, the end of the one—year mourning will end of the one—year mourning will end and thailand has a new king. we spoke earlier with our south east asia correspondent in bangkok, seeing there will be challenges going forward for both the monarchy and governments particularly on the economic and political front. and governments particularly on the economic and politicalfront. right, right. what's going to happen, i believe, is the status quo will definitely have to give. simply because, in the first place because the king, king bhumibol adulyadej was a tough act to follow. like i 5aid was a tough act to follow. like i said he lived an exemplary life of virtue. he 5ymboli5ed civility, he was able to meet acro55

virtue. he 5ymboli5ed civility, he was able to meet across the divide of thai society. so what is actually going to happen is we will have two c how the king is going to be managing his privy council and how, in the next year, are we simply going to be looking at direct and open interventions or the monarchy once again making alliances with variou5 once again making alliances with various sectors of thai society? the thai monarchy has not only made direct interventions, we have seen this in the last couple of days, we have seen it during his funeral, we have seen it during his funeral, we have spoken about 1992, 1973, two attem pts have spoken about 1992, 1973, two attempts he has survived, 1219 two

attem pts attempts he has survived, 1219 two attempts at least 25 mini5ters'5 and that has meant he would in his own word5 that has meant he would in his own words in the 1989 interview be in the middle and working in every field. he was an arbiter, peace broker. a mediator, profe55ionally. profe55ionally he was a musician, a naturalist. kevin he was indeed a well rounded monarch, we have to leave it there for now, kevin, thank you very much forjoining u5 leave it there for now, kevin, thank you very much forjoining us from the philippines. let's return to our correspondent in bangkok, jonathan head. what's the latest? well the

crowd i am with now, these are people still try to get in, we know the formal ceremony has begun, the urn which traditionally the body is put in, this is the one which will be taken on this long procession, it's already started moving. the bodyis it's already started moving. the body is not in the urn he is in a coffin which was moved to the cremation site last night, that is what everyone will focus on. these people have been waiting to get close to that tonight, it looks unlikely they will be able to get in and are determined to stay. there is and are determined to stay. there is a powerful sense of devotion, people travelling for very long distances to come to this final farewell. i was able to talk to a relative of king bhumibol adulyadej, to get her view on what this ceremony means to people at her level of 5tarter5. view on what this ceremony means to people at her level of startersm means a lot, i think it's the people you see on the street who make it

very vivid and emotional. some people can say is very extravagant but i think it's rather wonderful. we see this really emotional connection between him and ordinary people, genuine personal affection, there is that kind of bond and yet ina there is that kind of bond and yet in a country where royalist propaganda i5 in a country where royalist propaganda is so prevalent and you have so many re5trictions propaganda is so prevalent and you have so many restrictions on what you can say about the royal family people outside are bound to ask is it's genuine, this love?” people outside are bound to ask is it's genuine, this love? i think it is. i have been brought up in britain and thailand so i'm quite interested in democracy and equality and all that sort of thing but i feel it as much as anyone else i think andl feel it as much as anyone else i think and i was surprised in a way how upset i felt when he died and going on the streets and seen people. i think it's very genuine. you have been quite critical of the expre55ion about monarchies has been re5tricted. expre55ion about monarchies has been restricted. yes i don't think it's

helpful but apart from that, it does not mean he's not been a great king in many ways. and also it's been our whole lives. anyone who is younger than 70 will have known although this king so it's a very historic moment. i think it's all about us as well as him. the end of any pop for many of us. did you have many dealings with him, personal encounters which told you a little bit about what kind of man he was? my mother was quite close to the queen so we would go and have tea with the queen and then by the sea we had a house so we would go to the palace and go in the sea and there was a sort of thing where we could not get out of the sea unless they did andl not get out of the sea unless they did and i was quite young and i used to get exhausted and my mother would say you cannot come out yet and i would come out all shrivelled up! but it was good, fun. and when i was

older is when i started publishing, i went older is when i started publishing, iwent and older is when i started publishing, i went and presented a book to him and he was extremely charming. i was on the floor, going down into their respective position and he said no, i insist you come and sit on a chair which i thought was great, not everyone does that. we had a really long chat about the duties of a publisher and everything else, very interested in the environmental work i was doing. so the conversations i had with him he was extremely serious but very well—informed so another time i went to see him and we talked about water purification and that sort of thing. i think that is what made him loved. he touched so is what made him loved. he touched so many aspects of people's lives. is it so many aspects of people's lives. isita so many aspects of people's lives. is it a mixture of love and fear that people feel? i would say with him it is more alive than fear, for sure. he had a very human side and i

think people, i think that came across. we are at the start of a very long day of formal proceedings here, going to be a long wait for the5e here, going to be a long wait for these people who may not be able to move farfrom these people who may not be able to move far from where they are. we understand king maha vajiralongkorn has arrived to preside over the morning's ceremony and by the end of the day we will have the formal cremation of king bhumibol adulyadej happening at 10pm. so a long and drawn—out day, hi5toric day for thailand. 0nce drawn—out day, hi5toric day for thailand. once it over no one is quite sure what direction this country will take. thanks very much jonathan head. stay with us for live coverage in the next hour of the funeral of the king of thailand. good morning, 5ome

good morning, some significant change5 good morning, some significant changes to come over the next few days, once again on wednesday it was another mild day with much more 5un5hine around and we saw temperatures as high as 20 degrees in the south—east but over the next few days for all of us the wind direction will change, it will drive down some colder air as well. at the moment this weather front on the 5cene having moved 5outh, it is now moving north, dragging miss a damp weather into england and wales. north of that clearer skies in scotla nd north of that clearer skies in scotland but enough of a wind to preventive ju5t scotland but enough of a wind to preventive just getting too low and acro55 preventive just getting too low and across the far north of scotland more 5howers. lighter wind5, across the far north of scotland more 5howers. lighterwind5, clothe5 spilling into northern england, that of dampness around as well, damp start with much more low cloud acro55 start with much more low cloud across wales and the midlands towards east anglia two. hill fog likely, more general low level fog on the south—east where there's not much wind to stir things up, it might brighten up across southern

counties and turn out to be another mild day. sunnier skies in scotland away from the northern shower5, 5un5hine for northern ireland, perhap5 5un5hine for northern ireland, perhaps the far north of england, in between much more low cloud, could 5ee rain and drizzle through much of the day acro55 east yorkshire and lincolnshire. that weather front is wea k lincolnshire. that weather front is weak and will get pulled apart as high pressure builds overnight into friday. it will drive down with the high—pre55ure. more 5un5hine on the way on friday, chilly start, touch of frost on the grass from wales, the midlands. 0therwise of frost on the grass from wales, the midlands. otherwise a brighter day, more 5un5hine the midlands. otherwise a brighter day, more sunshine and temperatures where they should be at this time of year. things change again on saturday, you are not as the wind starting to pick up, more cloud around, likely to be showers around a5 around, likely to be showers around as well. because of an area of low pressure as well. because of an area of low pre55ure running as well. because of an area of low pressure running close to the 5hore5, that will dive into europe and bring wet and windy into much of

europe much of the weekend. the position of this high pressure behind that is crucial because it mean5 behind that is crucial because it means for us on sunday we are going to get more of a northerly wind and that will drag down some colder air acro55 that will drag down some colder air across the uk you will notice it feeling much more chilly especially in the wind which will be stronge5t in the wind which will be stronge5t in the eastern side. temperatures 13 or 14 in the eastern side. temperatures 13 or14 in the in the eastern side. temperatures 13 or 14 in the south but struggling to eight or nine in the north weather maybe one or two showers a5 eight or nine in the north weather maybe one or two showers as the wind5 drop out overnight, could start out frosty in the countryside on monday morning. i'm babita sharm5 with bbc news. our top story. thailand continue5 five days of funeral ceremonies for its revered king bhumibol adulyadej, a year after his death. the day's rituals began with king maha vajiralongkorn lighting candle5 inside the grand palace in front of his father's coffin, in a ceremony attended by buddhist monk5 chanting prayers. later he'll light the royal pyre to cremate his father. an army of builders and artisans has spent the year constructing a huge purpose—built crematorium be5ide bangkok's grand palace. and these images are trending widely. they show thousands of mourners camping on the streets of bangkok

ahead of the funeral procession and cremation. many arrived in the city days early in their determination to pay their last re5pects to the revered monarch. more on that to come, 5tay more on that to come, stay with us.