Tens of thousands of black-clad Thais massed in Bangkok Saturday for the lavish cremation of the king`s elder sister, a brief moment of unity for the Buddhist kingdom at a time of political crisis.

Soldiers in crimson ceremonial outfits, buglers and drummers marched solemnly alongside a two-centuries-old golden teak chariot carrying the remains of Princess Galyani on a winding day-long procession.

Galyani, the sister of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, 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 here since 1996.

Fittingly for a nation where the monarchy is regarded with near religious devotion, by dawn on Saturday Thais were already competing for space near a gilded crematorium purpose-built for the occasion.

`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.

Between the cremation and the king`s birthday there is expected to be a lull in the recent political turmoil that has gripped Thailand, but after that the feuding factions are expected to resume their stand-off.

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.

But as a mark of respect for the princess, a popular former French teacher, the anti-government demonstrators agreed at the last minute to clear a road on the funeral route.

Ancient Thai music wailed as three separate processions involving 2,000 troops accompanied the 14-tonne Royal Great Victory carriage from the royal throne hall to the Sanam Luang parade ground where the cremation takes place.

Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, representing the ageing king, and embattled Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat wore white ceremonial dress as they took part in the procession.

Thais lining the streets wore black clothes as a sign of mourning, in line with government requests. Officials said they numbered in the tens of thousands. All terrestrial television channels broadcast the ceremony live.

On Friday night the King led a candle-lighting ceremony at the royal palace, where Princess Galyani had lain in state for the past 10 months while craftsmen constructed the pyre.

The pyre is the most spectacular of dozens of temporary funeral buildings at the site, a 39-metre (128-foot) tower modelled after Mount Meru, a mythical Buddhist site said to be at the centre of the universe.

After the cremation, the funeral buildings will be demolished because they are reminders of the death of a beloved royal.

But Thailand`s political convulsions will be more difficult to erase.

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

The monarchy officially plays no political role in Thailand. But when the king`s wife Queen Sirikit donated thousands of dollars towards their medical expenses and attended the funeral of one of the people killed, protesters hailed the move as proof of royal support.

Leading the protests are the People`s Alliance for Democracy (PAD), which accuses the government now led by Somchai of acting as a corrupt front for his brother-in-law Thaksin, who was toppled in a bloodless coup in 2006.

The victory of Thaksin`s allies in elections in December angered the old power cliques in the palace, military and bureaucracy who loathe the billionaire telecoms tycoon.