1st coronation procession drill of Thailand's King Rama X held in Bangkok

BANGKOK, March 19 (TNA) - A grand rehearsal of all military units joining in a procession as part of Thailand's Royal Coronation Ceremony of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun, or King Rama X, in early May 2019 has been organized for the first time in Bangkok. The virtual-styled rehearsal of the procession, covering all the routes and areas the procession will pass, was held on Tuesday morning in the facility of the 11th Royal Guards under the 1st Army Area Command in the capital's Bang Khen area. The grand drill, which will be followed by four others on March 28, April 17, April 21 and April 28, was aimed to make military personnel of all the units acknowledge the routes and learn on handling the situation and overcoming challenges while carrying out the procession as part of the upcoming Royal Coronation Ceremony, set during May 4-6. The procession started from a replica of the Grand Palace, where the procession is to pass key Royal Throne Halls and structures, to the main roads surronding and in the vicinity of the Grand Palace. Tuesday's grand rehearsal also included a practice to carry a royal stretcher by alternating batches of military personnel, each for a distance of 500 meter, and preparations for a royal visit of three major temples by His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun, including Wat Bowonniwet Vihara, Wat Rajabopit and Wat Phra Chetuphon. (TNA)