His Majesty the King completed the elegant traditional Liap Phranakhon land procession, part of the Coronation Ceremony, late Sunday night, featuring visits to three Royal temples to pay homage to main Buddha images and relics of the King’s ancestors.
The tour of the old city of Bangkok, known as the Rattanakosin Island, took more than six hours, starting at 4.30 pm from the Grand Palace.
The sound of ”Long Live the King” echoed non-stop when the procession moved slowly along the route as troops of honour in colourful military uniforms goose-stepped to the tune of martial music and songs composed by the late King Bhumibol by brass bands.
Despite the beating sun, tens of thousands of people in yellow, the colour of the King, sat on the roadsides waiting for the arrival of the procession, with HM the King seated on the Pudtan Thong throne golden palanquin in his full ceremonial dress.
Her Majesty Queen Suthida and HRH Princess Bajrakitiyabha, both in red Royal Guard uniforms, joined the parade on both sides of the King’s palanquin.
The procession route passed through three Royal temples namely Wat Bowonniwet, Wat Rajabopit and Wat Phra Chetuphon. HM the King stopped at each of the three temples to perform religious rituals to pay homage to the main Buddha images and to the relics of his ancestors.
The procession left Wat Chetuphon at about 11 pm on its way back to the Grand Palace.
On Monday, HM the King will grant an audience on the balcony of the Sutthaisawan Prasad Throne Hall to receive well wishes from the people. Later on, the King will grant an audience to foreign diplomats at the Chakri Maha Prasad Throne Hall in the Grand Palace.
