King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s successor Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn has granted his sister Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn authority over the late king’s funeral pyre. The princess will make the final decisions about the design and construction of the pyre, known as a Phra Meru, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam announced Monday. Funeral arrangements in Thai tradition are much more elaborate than those in Western culture, especially for someone as revered as the king. A Phra Meru is often the most complicated and embellished part of a funeral ceremony and as such is a significant responsibility. The Grand Palace is expecting an enormous amount of mourners to visit the palace to pay their