Best photos of June 3: Drought in Qamishli to de-mining in Raqqa
The entire coronation ceremony extends over three days from May 4-6, but Saturday is the one to watch. At the time of 10:09am the royal purification ceremony begins. Wearing a white robe, the king will enter a pavilion at the Grand Palace, where he will be doused in sacred water from five rivers and four ponds in Thailand. In the distant past water was collected from specific rivers in India, reflecting the influential blend of Hindu and Buddhist cosmology on the coronation. Hindu Brahmins and the country's most senior Buddhist monks will be present. Coronation practices can be traced back thousands of years to ancient India.
The crown
Not long after royal purification rites, the king proceeds to the Baisal Daksin Throne Hall where he receives sacred water from eight directions. Symbolically that means he has received legitimacy from all directions of the kingdom. He ascends the Bhadrapitha Throne, where in regal robes he sits under a Nine-Tiered Umbrella of State. Brahmins will hand the monarch the royal regalia, including a wooden sceptre inlaid with gold, a precious stone-encrusted sword believed to have been found in a lake in northern Cambodia, slippers, and a whisk made from yak's hair.
The Great Crown of Victory is the centrepiece. Tiered, gold and weighing 7.3 kilograms, it has a diamond from India at the top. Vajiralongkorn will personally place the crown on his own head and then issues his first royal command.
The audience
On Saturday afternoon, the newly-crowned king is set to grant a "grand audience" to members of the royal family, the privy council, the cabinet and senior officials. Two hours later the king will visit the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, the most sacred space in Thailand, which on normal days is thronged with tourists. He then symbolically moves into the Royal Residence.
The procession
The main element of Sunday's ceremonies, streets across Bangkok's historic heart have been blocked off in preparation for this moment. The king will sit on a royal palanquin carried by soldiers dressed in colourful traditional garb. A 21-gun salute will start the procession. Some 200,000 people are expected to line the seven-kilometre route around the city.
Meet the people
On the last day of the ceremony Rama X will appear on the balcony of Suddhaisavarya Prasad Hall in the Grand Palace at 4:30pm "to receive the good wishes of the people". An hour later, diplomats will be given an audience at the Grand Palace. This is the only time during the ceremony that representatives of foreign governments will greet the king.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
UAE Moments
15 hours ago
- UAE Moments
Actress Nadia Montenegro Quits Senator Padilla Office After Marijuana Use Claims
Actress Nadia Montenegro has resigned as political affairs officer in the office of Senator Robin Padilla following allegations linking her to marijuana use inside the Senate building. Resignation Confirmed Padilla's chief of staff, Atty. Rudolf Philip Jurado, confirmed that Montenegro's resignation letter, dated August 15, was accepted immediately. She said the move was for her mental health and her children's welfare. Denial of Marijuana Allegations Montenegro firmly denied being the Senate staff allegedly caught using marijuana. She clarified that she had used a PWD restroom on August 12, not the ladies' restroom where the odor was reported. To prove her point, she even showed her grape-flavored vape to Senate security. Family Under Fire The actress said the leaked incident report, which was supposed to remain internal, triggered online backlash. She added that her children were unfairly ridiculed and labeled as children of a 'drug addict,' which caused them emotional pain. Protecting the Office
Zawya
4 days ago
- Zawya
China UnionPay's Poetry POS Machine Campaign Starts Global Heart-Warming Journey in Thailand
BANGKOK, THAILAND - Media OutReach Newswire - 15 August 2025 - Recently, alongside a Chinese lantern festival held in Thailand, UnionPay's Poetry POS Machine public welfare initiative brought the poems of Chinese children in mountainous areas overseas for the very first time. During the event, the "Poetry Lights the Heart's Lantern" Bangkok lantern and poem festival was also staged. On-site, the overseas charity booth of UnionPay's Poetry POS Machine, nestled beneath the China-Thailand friendship lantern display, stood out prominently. The large central lantern at the booth was breathtakingly beautiful, while the surrounding lanterns were adorned with children's poems in both Chinese and Thai. Thai children recited verses by their Chinese peers, savoring the childlike wonder and joy from China. Visitors to the booth could either make donations by swiping their UnionPay cards on the POS machine to receive a bilingual Chinese-Thai poetry receipt, or record a poetry-reading audio for free and get a postcard with an audio QR code – a unique memento to call their own. Notably, all donations from the event will be channeled through a local Thai charity foundation to improve the lives and education of local children. As a leading international card network, UnionPay is widely accepted in Thailand, with its global acceptance network spanning 183 countries and regions. "We believe that despite the distance between China and Thailand, the sincerity and warmth in these poems are shared by all. For poetry is a universal language of humanity, a home where all souls can find solace; just as lanterns, no matter where they glow, embody our shared longing for light and warmth," a China UnionPay spokesperson. To shine a light on the talents of children in mountainous regions, China UnionPay took their poems beyond the mountains and launched the Poetry POS Machine initiative in 2019. To date, the initiative has reached over 400 schools in mountainous areas in Anhui, Henan, Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan, Xinjiang, and other regions, benefiting more than 7,000 local children with art education programs. So far, the campaign has collected over 6,000 poems and published an anthology. Additionally, the first UnionPay public welfare library and 114 public welfare book corners have been put into use in Jinzhai County, central China's Anhui Province. Hashtag: #ChinaUnionPay The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. China UnionPay
Emirates 24/7
7 days ago
- Emirates 24/7
DMCC Hosts First-ever Roadshow in Indonesia
DMCC has concluded its first-ever Made For Trade Live (MFTL) roadshow in Jakarta, reinforcing the growing economic partnership between the United Arab Emirates and Indonesia. During the event, DMCC announced a 13% increase in Southeast Asian companies within its business district in the past 12 months – taking its total to more than 650 Southeast Asian companies, including over 30 from Indonesia. Following the landmark signing of the UAE-Indonesia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which entered into force in 2023, both countries have seen a rapid increase in trade and investment. Bilateral non-oil trade grew from USD 3 billion in 2020 to USD 5 billion in 2024 – a near-doubling in four years – while outward investment from the UAE has kickstarted major new projects in strategic sectors from renewable energy to advanced tech infrastructure, opening up new avenues for collaboration. Capitalising on this momentum, DMCC sees key opportunities to engage with Indonesian businesses and attract investment across sectors such as energy, agri-food, technology and the Islamic economy. DMCC's subsidiary the Dubai Gold & Commodities Exchange (DGCX) recently announced a strong first half of trading, with a key highlight being its Shariah-compliant Gold Spot Contract (DGSG) which jumped by almost 200% in value year-on-year to reach USD 46.8 million. In April, DMCC Tradeflow – its online platform for the registration and ownership of commodities stored in UAE facilities – appointed a Shariah Supervisory Board to oversee its Islamic finance offering and adherence to the highest ethical and regulatory standards. His Excellency Abdulla Salem AlDhaheri, Ambassador of the UAE to the Republic of Indonesia, to the Democratic Republic of Timor–Leste, and the ASEAN, said: 'It is a privilege to participate in the Made for Trade Live event, organised by DMCC in partnership with the UAE Embassy in Jakarta and KADIN Indonesia. This event is not simply a meeting – it is a gateway for Indonesian partners to see firsthand the opportunities that the UAE offers to live, work, invest, and succeed. Our economic ties are anchored by the exceptional relationship between our leaders, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, and His Excellency Prabowo Subianto, President of the Republic of Indonesia, who has already visited the UAE twice since his inauguration. But the true strength of the UAE–Indonesia relationship lies in people-to-people and business-to-business connections. The UAE remains unwavering in its commitment to strengthening its partnership with Indonesia across trade, investment, innovation, and beyond. The UAE Embassy in Jakarta stands ready to offer full support to all partners working to advance this shared vision. Together, we will build a stronger future, founded on mutual respect, shared prosperity, and lasting friendship.' Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, DMCC, said: 'Trade and investment between the UAE and Indonesia has surged following the entry into force of the CEPA in 2023 – with bilateral non-oil trade reaching over USD 5 billion last year, nearly double its value five years ago. With over 650 companies from Southeast Asia in our district, DMCC now also represents an estimated 20% of the total Indonesian business presence in the UAE. Indonesia's role as the world's largest Muslim-majority nation and a global leader in Islamic finance, Halal-certified goods, and Shariah-compliant trade presents significant opportunities for collaboration with Dubai in advancing the Islamic economy. Dubai – and by extension the UAE – remains a pivotal node in the Islamic economic ecosystem. Its strengths stem from a blend of regulatory clarity, digital innovation, strategic geography, and diversified Islamic financial and trade infrastructure. As trade and investment momentum continues to grow, we will aim to consolidate our position as the trade hub of choice for Indonesian companies in Dubai, deepening the trade corridor with Jakarta and expanding business connectivity in key sectors from energy and agri-food to technology and the Islamic economy. By leveraging DMCC's global platforms in commodities and Islamic trade, we will help facilitate the flow of Halal products, Islamic financial instruments, and Shariah-compliant investment across the GCC, Southeast Asia, and beyond.' Held in collaboration with the UAE Embassy in Jakarta and the Indonesian Business Council, the roadshow brought together over 150 Indonesian business leaders and government stakeholders to explore how DMCC can serve as a strategic platform for Indonesian companies looking to expand globally. DMCC's record as an international business district continues to drive its appeal. With over 25,000 companies now operating across its district, DMCC contributes 15% of Dubai's annual foreign direct investment inflows and 7% of the emirate's GDP.
