Funeral rituals began early Thursday for Thailand's late king Bhumibol Adulyadej, as more than 200,000 people massed near the cremation site in Bangkok for a revered monarch who died last year aged 88.

His son and heir King Maha Vajiralongkorn, dressed in full military regalia, joined monks for Buddhist rituals at the Grand Place before the start of a day of funeral processions culiminating in the cremation at 10pm (1500GMT).