Thailand enters year-long mourning period following death of king
Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world’s longest-reigning monarch, passed away on October 13 at the age of 88 after years of ill health.
The government has announced an official mourning period of one year. Thais have been asked to avoid wearing bright colors or hold any festive events for 30 days.
- This photo illustration shows local newspapers reporting on the death of Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej in Taipei on October 14, 2016. King Bhumibol Adulyadej, long a unifying figure in politically fractious Thailand, died on October 13 and uncertainty over the succession quickly arose as his crown prince reportedly sought a delay in taking over. / (AFP Photo/Sam Yeh)
- Thai police stand outside the Grand Palace as the Royal bathing for King Bhumibol Adulyadej is occurring inside the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne on October 14, 2016 in Bangkok, Thailand. Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world’s longest-reigning monarch, died at the age of 88 in Bangkok’s Siriraj Hospital on Thursday after his 70-year reign. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha made a statement Thailand would hold a one-year mourning period as the Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn confirmed that he would perform his duty as heir to the throne. (Photo by Borja Sanchez Trillo/Getty Images)
- Mourners light candles to pay respects to the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej in the southern province of Narathiwat on October 14, 2016. Massive crowds of weeping Thais and saluting soldiers lined the streets Friday as late King Bhumibol Adulyadej was borne through Bangkok, a day after his death left an apprehensive country facing an uncertain future. / (AFP Photo/Madaree Tohlala)
- People mourn for the death of Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej outside Siriraj Hospital on Oct. 13, 2016 in Bangkok, capital of Thailand. Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej has died at the age of 88, the Bureau of Royal Household said on Thursday. (Li Mangmang/Xinhua/Zuma Press/TNS)
- Mourners wearing black hold candles to pay respects to the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej in the southern province of Narathiwat on October 14, 2016. Massive crowds of weeping Thais and saluting soldiers lined the streets Friday as late King Bhumibol Adulyadej was borne through Bangkok, a day after his death left an apprehensive country facing an uncertain future. / (AFP Photo/Madaree Tohlala)
- The chief monk lights candles for the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej at Mahabodhi temple in Bodhgaya on October 14, 2016. Bhumibol, the world’s longest-reigning monarch, passed away aged 88 on October 13, 2016 after years of ill health, removing a stabilising father figure from a country where political tensions remain two years after a military coup / (AFP Photo/Stringerstringer/afp/getty Images )
- Commuters dress in black as an official period of mourning begins on October 14, 2016, following the death of King Bhumibol Adulyadej in Bangkok, Thailand. Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world’s longest-reigning monarch, died at the age of 88 in Bangkok’s Siriraj Hospital on Thursday after his 70-year reign. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha made a statement Thailand would hold a one-year mourning period as the Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn confirmed that he would perform his duty as heir to the throne. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)
- Thais sob as they wait to pay their last respects to the body of King Bhumibol Adulyadej on the ground outside Grand Palace in a royal procession led by son and heir apparent Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn in Bangkok, Thailand Friday, Oct. 14, 2016. Bhumibol, the world’s longest reigning monarch, died on Thursday at the age of 88. (AP Photo/Wason Wanichakorn)
- Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (R) writes his name in a condolence book for the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej at the Thai Embassy in Tokyo on October 14, 2016. Bhumibol, the world’s longest-reigning monarch, passed away at 88 on October 13 after years of ill health, removing a stabilising father figure from a country where political tensions remain raw two years after a military coup. / (AFP Photo/Kazuhiro Nogi)
- Thais living in Malaysia attend a special prayer for the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej at a Thai temple in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Friday, Oct. 14, 2016. Bhumibol, the world’s longest reigning monarch, died on Thursday at the age of 88. (AP Photo/Lim Huey Teng)
- Thais cry as they pray for Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej at Siriraj Hospital where the king is being treated in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, Oct. 13, 2016. The royal palace said in a statement late Wednesday that the 88-year-old king’s blood pressure had dropped, his liver and kidneys were not working properly and he remained on a ventilator. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
- A mourner clutches a picture of Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej after the hearse carrying the body of the late monarch passes the Grand Palace in Bangkok on October 14, 2016. Bhumibol, the world’s longest-reigning monarch, passed away aged 88 on October 13, 2016 after years of ill health, removing a stabilising father figure from a country where political tensions remain two years after a military coup. / (AFP Photo/Lillian Suwanrumpha)
- The Thai Royal Guard stand in formation in honour of the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej inside the grounds of the Grand Palace in Bangkok on October 14, 2016. Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world’s longest-reigning monarch, passed away aged 88 on October 13, 2016 after years of ill health, removing a stabilising father figure from a country where political tensions remain two years after a military coup. / (AFP Photo/Lillian Suwanrumpha)
- A motorcade carries the body of King Bhumibol Adulyadej to the Grand Palace while people kneel to pay respect to him on October 14, 2016 in Bangkok, Thailand. Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world’s longest-reigning monarch, died at the age of 88 in Bangkok’s Siriraj Hospital on Thursday after his 70-year reign. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha made a statement Thailand would hold a one-year mourning period as the Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn confirmed that he would perform his duty as heir to the throne. (Photo by Borja Sanchez Trillo/Getty Images)
- A man (L) takes a moment in a corner during the procession of Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s body to his palace in Bangkok on October 14, 2016. Bhumibol, the world’s longest-reigning monarch, passed away aged 88 on October 13, 2016 after years of ill health, removing a stabilising father figure from a country where political tensions remain two years after a military coup. / (AFP Photo/Manan Vatsyayana)
- A boy holds an image of the late Thai King during the procession of Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s body to his palace in Bangkok on October 14, 2016. Bhumibol, the world’s longest-reigning monarch, passed away aged 88 on October 13, 2016 after years of ill health, removing a stabilising father figure from a country where political tensions remain two years after a military coup. / (AFP Photo/Munir Zamanmunir uz zaman)
- A mourner prays for the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej inside Siriraj Hospital in Bangkok on October 14, 2016. Bhumibol, the world’s longest-reigning monarch, passed away aged 88 on October 13, 2016 after years of ill health, removing a stabilising father figure from a country where political tensions remain two years after a military coup / (AFP Photo/Lillian Suwanrumpha)
- A man holds an image of the late Thai King after the procession of Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s body to his palace in Bangkok on October 14, 2016. Bhumibol, the world’s longest-reigning monarch, passed away aged 88 on October 13, 2016 after years of ill health, removing a stabilising father figure from a country where political tensions remain two years after a military coup. / (AFP Photo/Munir Zamanmunir uz zaman)
- A woman cries as the hearse carrying the body of the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej passes the Grand Palace in Bangkok on October 14, 2016. Bhumibol, the world’s longest-reigning monarch, passed away aged 88 on October 13, 2016 after years of ill health, removing a stabilising father figure from a country where political tensions remain two years after a military coup. / (AFP Photo/Lillian Suwanrumpha)
- A woman watches a televised broadcast of the ceremonies taking place inside the Grand Palace on October 14, 2016 following the death of King Bhumibol Adulyadej in Bangkok, Thailand. Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world’s longest-reigning monarch, died at the age of 88 in Bangkok’s Siriraj Hospital on Thursday after his 70-year reign. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha made a statement Thailand would hold a one-year mourning period as the Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn confirmed that he would perform his duty as heir to the throne. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)