Thailand protests put to side as loyalists pay tribute to late King Bhumibol

King Vajiralongkorn leads candle lighting ceremony in front of the Grand Palace to commemorate his father, who died in 2016 after reigning for seven decades

The ceremony was one of the biggest shows of royalist support since protests surged in July

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Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn greets royalists ahead of a candlelight vigil to remember the birthday of his father. Photo: Reuters

Published: 10:21pm, 5 Dec 2020Updated: 10:21pm, 5 Dec 2020

Thousands of people gathered in Bangkok on Saturday to show their devotion to the Thai monarchy on the birthday of King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s late father, after months of street protests led by a youth movement demanding reform to royal powers.

King Vajiralongkorn led a candle lighting ceremony in front of the Grand Palace in Bangkok to pay tribute to his father, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who died in 2016 after reigning for seven decades – during which he was seen by many as a symbol of national unity.

The king was joined by thousands of loyalists, wearing the royal colour yellow and waving national flags.

Supporters of the Thai monarchy display images of the royal family during a ceremony commemorating the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Photo: AP

In recent months, the monarchy in Thailand has become a target for a youth-led protest movement that accuses the current king and the government led by a former army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha of expanding royal powers to a level not seen since the absolute monarchy ended in 1932.

The protesters broke long-standing taboos by openly criticising King Vajiralongkorn for taking direct control of two military units and the wealth of the Crown Property Bureau, valued in tens of billions of dollars.

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