Bhutan King to visit Thailand to pay respect to late King Bhumibol

BANGKOK, Oct 15 (TNA) -- Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck will visit Thailand today to pay the last respect to late King Bhumibol Adulyadej who passed away on Thursday. The Facebook page of King Khesar showed the massege posted on Friday saying that Their Majesties will visit Thailand tomorrow to pay personal respects to His Majesty the Late King of Thailand Bhumibol Adulyadej. Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Queen Jetsum Pema were scheduled to arrived Bangkok today at 7pm and would attend the royal funeral ceremony of King Bhumibol at Dusit Mahaprasat Throne Hall in the Grand Palace complex. King Bhumibol, the world's longest-reigning monarch, passed away at 88 on Thursday, he would turn 89 on December 5, 2016. King Khesar first visited Thailand as the crown prince of his country in 2006 for the occasion of HM the King’s 60th Anniversary of his ascension to the throne and he has been a popular figure in Thailand ever since. The Bhutan’s King has ordered for Friday to be a public holiday to give people leave from work to join in Thailand’s mourning. In dedication to the memory of King Bhumibol, King Khesar had commanded that special prayers be held, and butter lamps be lit in sacred temples across Bhutan. He said in his Facebook page that the Royal Families of Bhutan and Thailand have shared exceptionally warm relations over the years, which have been mirrored by strong bonds of friendship between the two countries. Meanwhile, thousands queue in the heat outside of the Grand Palace waiting to pay their respects to King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Thousands of Thais dressed in black waited patiently on Saturday under the hot and strong sunlight for their turn to enter the Grand Palace and offer prayers for King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Early in the morning, princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn visited the palace to pray, make merit and speak with palace officials. (TNA)