Thousands of black-clad Thais gathered on Saturday at the lavish cremation ceremony for the revered king`s elder sister, a potentially unifying moment for the country at a time of political crisis.

Soldiers in crimson ceremonial outfits hoisted a golden teak urn containing the remains of Princess Galyani onto their shoulders at the start of a day-long procession from the palace to a specially built crematorium.

Galyani, the sister of King Bhumibol Adulaydej, died of cancer on January 2 at the age of 84. Costing at least 300 million baht (8.9 million dollars), it is the first full royal funeral in the Buddhist kingdom since 1996.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration told AFP they expect crowds of at least 100,000 to turn out, although Thai radio stations were reporting crowds up to half a million people were expected.

By dawn on Saturday, the parade ground of Sanam Luang was already thronged with mourning Thais competing for space along the route of the procession and near the crematorium, AFP correspondents said.

`It`s been very hard, but I had to do it,` said Boonkom Chareeruk, 48, a street vendor who rode a bicycle decorated with a large photograph of Galyani some 350 kilometres (217 miles) from the northeastern province of Kalasin.

He said he planned to return for celebrations to mark the king`s 81st birthday on December 5.

All terrestrial television channels were broadcasting the ceremony live.

The period between the cremation and the king`s birthday is expected to see a lull in the political turmoil that has gripped Thailand in recent months, but after that further upheaval is likely.

Protesters have occupied the main government offices in Bangkok since August, refusing to leave until the resignation of the government, which they accuse of acting as a front for ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

Thaksin was toppled in a bloodless coup in 2006.

The protests exploded into violence on October 7, with two demonstrators killed and nearly 500 people injured after clashes with police.