A five-day funeral for the late king of Thailand is underway. Around a third of a million people are expected to visit the Grand Palace in the capital of Bangkok. CGTN's Martin Lowe is there.

 

They've travelled from all corners of Thailand to spend a final moment with the king they've loved for as long as they can remember. Mourners gathering at the Grand Palace in Bangkok for the funeral of King Bhumipol Adulyadej. Numbers grow by the hour, hundreds of thousands will attend here in the capital, with millions more at funeral replica sites around the country. The king ruled for seven decades before his death at the age of 88 in October 2016. There's been a full year of remembrance with most citizens wearing black clothing, entertainment and social events muted or abandoned. The king is remembered for his energetic work to improve the lives of ordinary Thais, visiting every part of the kingdom and overseeing development projects to bring water, electricity, welfare and health services to his people.

 

VICHIEN INOSOT MOURNER He set the path for us to follow. The most precious father in the world and he loved us all equally.

 

PONGSRI KUMSIN MOURNER He was down to earth and took care of all of us just like his children.

 

Thousands of blue-capped volunteers have given up their time to assist the mourners.

 

SUTIN KAEWPUANG POLICE MAJOR This is the ceremony that everyone wants to take part in, the last chance to repay our late king.

 

MARTIN LOWE GRAND PALACE, BANGKOK King Bhumipol was the world's longest reigning monarch at the time of his death and most Thais find it hard to imagine life without him. The country will come to a virtual standstill while they pause to say a final goodbye.

 

First, a day of prayer, with a ceremony of Buddhist merit-making led by the new king, Bhumipol's son, Maha Vajiralongkorn. On Thursday the royal urn and coffin will be taken from the palace to the crematorium complex for a series of ceremonies culminating in the cremation itself, late in the evening. The funeral is being attended by leaders of more than 30 countries worldwide. Three more days of religious and ceremonial events will follow, with the whole funeral process taking a full five days and costing 90 million US dollars to stage. Martin Lowe CGTN Bangkok.