Royal Cremation

Smoke from her remains rises above the crematorium of late Princess Galyani Vadhana is seen at night after the royal cremation ceremony at the royal ground in Bangkok, Thailand Saturday, Nov. 15, 2008. Princess Galyani Vadhana, the elder sister of King Bhumibol Adulyadej died on Jan. 2, 2008, at the age of 84.

Thai people take pictures next to a portrait of late Thai Princess Galyani Vadhana during her cremation procession in Bangkok, Thailand, Saturday, Nov. 15, 2008. The princess, who died in January, was noted for her interest in the arts, especially theatre and classical music, a taste cultivated when, like the king, she was educated in Switzerland, where she spent much time until later life.

A Brahmin priest, center in white, helps elevate the urn of late Princess Galyani Vadhana on to the crematorium during the royal cremation Saturday, Nov. 15, 2008 in Bangkok, Thailand. The slow-moving funeral procession ended at the crematorium - a temporary complex of pavilions built by hundreds of Thai craftsmen over the past seven months.

Soldiers in period dress carry the body of Princess Galyani Vadhana near the royal cremation site Saturday, Nov. 15, 2008, in Bangkok, Thailand. The princess, the elder sister of King Bhumibol Adulyadey, died of abdominal cancer 10 month ago. The funeral procession was attended by tens of thousands of Thais, while millions of others watched the event on television.

A Thai police officer, right, catches a stray dog behind a royal guard prior to the start of the royal cremation procession of the late Princess Galyani Vadhana Saturday, Nov. 15, 2008, in Bangkok, Thailand. Princess Galyani Vadhana, the elder sister of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, died on Jan. 2, 2008 at the age of 84.

The Royal Great Victory Carriage, carrying the urn and remains of late Princess Galyani Vadhana, is pulled by soldiers dressed in ancient uniforms past the grand palace in a procession during her cremation in Bangkok, Thailand, Saturday, Nov. 15, 2008. The elder sister of King Bhumibol Adulyadej died of abdominal cancer on Jan. 2, 2008. She was 84.

Thai Royal Guards march during the royal cremation procession for late Princess Galyani Vadhana in Bangkok, Thailand, Saturday, Nov. 15, 2008.

Princess Sirindhorn walks with honor guards at the royal cremation procession for her aunt, late Princess Galyani Vadhana, Saturday, Nov. 15, 2008, in Bangkok, Thailand. Tens of thousands of Thais, wearing black, flocked to the capital's royal field for the ceremony.

A Thai royal guard stands for security in front of people watching a procession during the royal cremation for Thai Princess Galyani Vadhana in Bangkok, Thailand Saturday, Nov. 15, 2008.

The Royal Great Victory Carriage, carrying the urn and remains of late Princess Galyani Vadhana, is pulled by soldiers dressed in ancient uniforms past the grand palace in a procession during her cremation in Bangkok, Thailand, Saturday, Nov. 15, 2008.

Thai Royal Guards march during the royal cremation procession for the late Princess Galyani Vadhana in Bangkok, Thailand, Saturday, Nov. 15, 2008. The elder sister of King Bhumibol Adulyadej died on Jan. 2, 2008, at the age of 84.

King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand lights the candles as he attends the religious rites for his elder sister, late Princess Galyani Vadhana, portrait at left, at the Dusit Throne Hall inside the Grand Palace Friday, Nov. 14, 2008 in Bangkok, Thailand. The ceremony, attended by more than 100 Buddhist monks, promised a temporary halt to the country's long-running divisive political conflict.

A Thai woman holds a picture of Princess Galyani Vadhana during her cremation procession in Bangkok, Thailand Saturday, Nov. 15, 2008. Mourners lined the streets to watch as three processions involving more than 2,000 soldiers in dress uniforms carried the remains of the late princess to the Grand Crematorium. Thais also burned sandalwood flowers at temples around the country and millions watched the procession on TV.

A gardener pours water on the flower garden decorated at the crematorium of late Prince Galyani Vadhana at the royal ground in Bangkok, Thailand, Friday, Nov. 14, 2008. The body of Princess Galyani, an elder sister of the King, was cremated on Saturdayin a ceremony presided over by King Bhumibol and Queen Sirikit as well as others from the royal family.

Thais gather near a royal cremation site at Sanam Luang in Bangkok, Thailand Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2008. Princess Galayani Vadhana, the older sister to King Bhumibol Adulyaday, is to be cremated in a royal ceremony Saturday, Nov. 15, 2008. She died in January.

Thai soldiers pull a royal carriage to be used at the cremation of late Princess Galyani Vadhana out of the garage at national museum in Bangkok, Thailand Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2008. Princess Galyani Vadhana, the elder sister of Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej, died on Jan. 2, 2008 at the age of 84. Her cremation is set for Nov. 15, 2008.

worker applies finishing touches on a decoration of the royal carriage to be used at the cremation of late Princess Galyani Vadhana at the national museum in Bangkok, Thailand Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2008.

Workers labor on the ground at the crematorium of the late Princess Galyani Vadhana at the royal ground near the Grand Place, background, in Bangkok, Thailand Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2008. Princess Galyani Vadhana, the elder sister of Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej, died on Jan. 2, 2008 at the age of 84. Her cremation is set for Nov. 15, 2008.

Statues are seen near the entrance to the crematorium of the late Princess Galyani Vadhana at the royal ground near the Grand Place, background, in Bangkok, Thailand Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2008.

A carpenter, right, works near the entrance to the crematorium of the late Princess Galyani Vadhana at the royal ground near the Grand Place, background, in Bangkok, Thailand Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2008. The seven-tiered site has been temporarily set up to house the princess' remains before a cremation cermony on Nov. 15.