Thailand Faces Uncertainty as They Grieve King Bhumibol

Thailand began its first day in 70 years without a king on Friday in an intense state of mourning, with people across the shaken nation dressed in black following the death of the world’s longest-reigning monarch, Bhumibol Adulyadej, aged 88. Some of the generally bustling streets of Bangkok were quiet as stone-faced Thais set out on their morning commutes. Considered a source of strength in a country that has seen countless coups since he ascended to the throne at the age of 18 in 1946, Bhumibol’s death has thrown uncertainty over the southeast Asian nation. It was declared a public holiday on Friday morning and people in the streets wore black, white or grey, avoiding bright colours to signify the country’s loss. Many newspapers were published without colour. The Friday edition of the English-language Nation paper was entirely devoted to the life of the king. The front page simple read: “Kingdom Grieves.”