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Thailand Mourns King Bhumibol Adulyadej

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Thailand Mourns King Bhumibol Adulyadej

Millions of Thai citizens mourn the passing of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who died on October 13, 2016.

Thailand Mourns King Bhumibol Adulyadej

Thousands converged on Siriraj hospital as news of an imminent announcement on the condition of the King was to be made at 6 p.m. People from all over Bangkok surged into the hospital grounds to pay respect to their beloved King.

Credit: Nick McGrath
Thailand Mourns King Bhumibol Adulyadej

A woman is overcome with grief after hearing the news from the palace that the King of Thailand passed away.

Credit: Nick McGrath
Thailand Mourns King Bhumibol Adulyadej

A woman is overcome with grief after hearing the news from the palace that the King of Thailand passed away.

Credit: Nick McGrath
Thailand Mourns King Bhumibol Adulyadej

A young couple hold a portrait of the King of Thailand overcome with grief after hearing the news from the palace that the King of Thailand passed away.

Credit: Nick McGrath
Thailand Mourns King Bhumibol Adulyadej

A woman holds a portrait of the King while praying, just before the announcement was made that the king passed away.

Credit: Nick McGrath
Thailand Mourns King Bhumibol Adulyadej

A woman in yellow looks on in shock as the announcement was made that the King of Thailand passed away.

Credit: Nick McGrath
Thailand Mourns King Bhumibol Adulyadej

A couple look on in shock after the announcement was made by the palace that the King of Thailand passed away.

Credit: Nick McGrath
Thailand Mourns King Bhumibol Adulyadej

An old woman looking on in shock sits outside of the hospital grounds, where the king had been staying for treatment for the past seven years.

Credit: Nick McGrath
Thailand Mourns King Bhumibol Adulyadej

Crowds converged on the streets surrounding Siriraj Hospital, where the king had been recieving treatment for the past seven years. The crowd stood silent and in shock after hearing the news of the passing of their King,

Credit: Nick McGrath
Thailand Mourns King Bhumibol Adulyadej

A young woman standing in the street outside Siriraj Hospital looks on in disbelief after hearing the news of the passing of their King.

Credit: Nick McGrath
Thailand Mourns King Bhumibol Adulyadej

A man holding an old portrait of the King of Thailand stands out on the street as large crowds pour into the hospital from all over Bangkok.

Credit: Nick McGrath
Thailand Mourns King Bhumibol Adulyadej

A woman cries in disbelief after hearing the news that the King of Thailand passed away.

Credit: Nick McGrath
Thailand Mourns King Bhumibol Adulyadej

Two women overcome with emotion pray for their King at Siriraj Hosptial.

Credit: Nick McGrath
Thailand Mourns King Bhumibol Adulyadej

A woman holds a portrait of the King Of Thailand while shouting out “Long live the King” prior to the announcement of the Kings passing.

Credit: Nick McGrath
Thailand Mourns King Bhumibol Adulyadej

A man wipes tears from his eyes after hearing the news that the King had passed away.

Credit: Nick McGrath

Thailand’s venerated king, Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world’s longest-reigning monarch, has died at the age of 88, the Thai Royal Palace announced this evening. King Bhumibol passed away at Bangkok’s Siriraj hospital on Thursday.

The palace did not give a reason for his death. “His Majesty has passed away at Siriraj Hospital peacefully,” a statement said, adding he died at 3:52 p.m. local time (8:52 a.m. GMT). King Rama IX spent the last seven years at Siriraj Hospital for a variety of ailments, including kidney and lung problems. The palace recently said the octogenarian had been in an “unstable” condition for several days after receiving hemiodialysis treatment.

On Thursday evening, hundreds of people starting filling the center of Siriraj Hospital to pray and give respect to their King. An announcement by the royal palace was planned originally for 5:30 p.m., but was delayed until 8:52 p.m. That announcement came as a shock for everyone, as the news of the passing of the King finally swept through the crowd, wails of grief and crying washed through the hospital grounds as the realization finally set in that their King had finally passed away.

Shortly after the palace announced the death, parliament held nine minutes of silence in respect of the king. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-Cha confirmed the succession in a statement broadcast on all Thai television channels. “The government will proceed with the succession. The government will inform the National Legislative Assembly that His Majesty the King appointed his heir on Dec 28, 1972,” the prime minister said, referring to the date that Vajiralongkorn, 64, was made Crown Prince.