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Three processions relocated Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana's golden urn from the Grand Palace's Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall to the royal crematorium at Sanam Luang. HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn and the Crown Prince's Royal Consort, HRH Princess Srirasmi, joined the processions.

Many attendees arrived early in the morning to stake out a spot with a good view.

Wanpen Angkaew, a 38-year-old woman from the capital's Phra Khanong district, awoke at 3am and rode a public bus to the site. When she arrived at 5am, she secured a place where she could see the procession. It started at 7am and transported the urn from Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall to Wat Phra Chetuphon.

Wanpen watched as the Phra Yannamas Sam Lam Khan palanquin, a royal chair carried by human bearers, transported the urn. The Saliang Kleeb Bua palanquin preceded it, carrying His Holiness Somdet Phra Buddhacharya, president of the Executive Committee for the Supreme Patriarch.

Soldiers partaking in the procession dressed in traditional Thai uniforms or in brightly coloured red, orange, white and green costumes. Despite the strong late-morning sun and the crowded atmosphere, people stood patiently and watched the proceedings, hoping to glimpse the elaborate ceremony and the Royal Family.

Thong Siengsai, 68, said she came from her home in Nong Bua Lamphu province to witness the royal cremation. She departed on Friday evening and arrived at 4am yesterday.

"I will wait until their Majesties the King and Queen place the royal fire in the royal crematorium at 10pm," said Thong. "I want to see Royal Family members and the procession closely as I've never seen them in person before"

A family that lives near the Rama II Monument in Bangkok also came out to see the Royal Family step out on the Sanam Luang lawn. The grandmother, Thananna Nakhornwong, 70, said she, her daughter and two granddaughters planned to wait near the cremation site until the royal fire, placed at night, sent the late Princess off to heaven.

"The Princess was a very good person. She was kind. She helped so many Thais. I love her and I feel overwhelmed to see a lot of Thai people at the cremation," said Thananna, who visited the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall 10 times to pay respect to the Princess's body. "Today, we packed enough food to eat all day, as we plan

 to stay for a long time."

The cremation also drew attention from foreigners. Bill and Nancy Martin from California read about the procession plans in their home country's newspaper. When they travelled to Thailand for their third visit to the country, they decided to attend the proceedings and pay their respects.

"It's nice to see so many people with so much respect for the King and his sister," Bill Martin said. "We can't get very close [to the processions] at all. We will come back to see the pyre after the processions."

Both insisted they would return to the Sanam Luang in the evening to watch the performances conducted in honour of the Princess.

Canadian Allan Ramsay, 55, said he also could not see the procession closely.

"I would like to get a better view, but it's crowded," he said. "I like processions, but I have to go home to see it on TV."