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Dozens of mourners have begun to gather for the funeral of Leicester City owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha in Bangkok today, with Thai royalty, dignitaries and leading sporting figures expected to attend.

The Leicester City squad is due to make the 12,000 mile round trip to Thailand shortly after their 3pm fixture against Cardiff, with first team stars including Jamie Vardy keen to pay tribute to billionaire businessman whose backing helped secure the side an unprecedented Premier League trophy in 2016.

Mr Vichai, 60, two members of staff, the pilot and his partner all died in a horrific helicopter crash outside the King Power Stadium last Saturday, just metres away from thousands of supporters making their way home.

A vehicle carrying the body of Leicester City owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha has arrived at a temple in Bangkok ahead of his funeral later today with Thai royalty, dignitaries and leading sporting figures expected to attend

Mr Vichai (pictured) , 60, two members of staff, the pilot and his partner all died in a horrific helicopter crash outside the King Power Stadium last Saturday just metres away from thousands of supporters making their way home

The Leicester City squad is due to make the 12,000 mile round trip to Thailand shortly after their 3pm fixture against Cardiff, with first team stars including Jamie Vardy keen to pay tribute to billionaire businessman whose backing helped secure the side an unprecedented Premier League trophy in 2016

Mr Vichai, 60, two members of staff, the pilot and his partner all died in a horrific helicopter crash outside the King Power Stadium last Saturday just metres away from thousands of supporters making their way home

A black Ford transit van arrived at Wat Thep Sirin Temple ahead of his funeral which will commence a seven day procession.   

Vichai rose from having a single store in Bangkok to owning the duty-free King Power empire, whose shops are ubiquitous in Thailand's tourist-heavy airports.

Using the profits from his monopoly Vichai snagged Leicester City and helped turn it from an unremarkable lower tier club to a surprise winner of the Premier League title beating football giants Manchester United and Chelsea in the process.

Thais were stunned by the loss a man known for having one business success after another, but who owed much of his rise to his canny navigation of Thailand's unpredictable politics and elite society.

Buddhist monks will recite prayers from religious texts and afterwards the body will be kept for 100 days before a cremation but a date has not been set

The ceremony will have regal touches, with an octagonal urn among the items given by the monarchy and court musicians playing drums and flutes during royally-sponsored bathing rites

The squad and staff will be in Thailand for about 36 hours, visiting the temple where Vichai rests

Vichai's body was flown back to Thailand and taken to Wat Thepsirin on Friday where prominent individuals close to the family wore black for a private gathering ahead of the official ceremony which starts Saturday evening and lasts until November 9.  

The ceremony will have regal touches, with an octagonal urn among the items given by the monarchy and court musicians playing drums and flutes during royally-sponsored bathing rites.

Buddhist monks will recite prayers from religious texts and afterwards the body will be kept for 100 days before a cremation but a date has not been set.

Members of the Leicester team including coach Claude Puel are due to fly to Thailand to pay their respects after an afternoon away match against Cardiff City Saturday.

Monks attend a procession with royal soldiers during a funeral for Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, late chairman of Leicester City Football Club, in Bangkok

Vichai leaves behind a wife and four children, two sons and two daughters. All five are on the executive board of King Power, which faces an uncertain future

The four other crash victims were identified by British police as Nursara Suknamai - an actress and a runner-up in Miss Thailand Universe in 2005 - and Kaveporn Punpare, both members of Vichai's staff, pilot Eric Swaffer and passenger Izabela Roza Lechowicz

'We all spoke about ... wanting to play, it's what Vichai would've wanted and that's what we are going to do,' striker Jamie Vardy told Sky Sports, adding that they would 'honour his name' with their performance.

Vardy, goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel and captain Wes Morgan, are expected to travel along with Puel and senior staff.

Vichai leaves behind a wife and four children, two sons and two daughters. All five are on the executive board of King Power, which faces an uncertain future.

In the first public reaction from the family, Vichai's youngest son Aiyawatt - better known by his nickname 'Top' - said in an Instagram post this week that his father had 'left me with a legacy to continue and I will do everything I can to carry on his big vision and dreams.'

The four other crash victims were identified by British police as Nursara Suknamai - an actress and a runner-up in Miss Thailand Universe in 2005 - and Kaveporn Punpare, both members of Vichai's staff, pilot Eric Swaffer and passenger Izabela Roza Lechowicz.

The squad and staff will be in Thailand for about 36 hours, visiting the temple where Vichai rests.

The four other crash victims were identified by British police as Nursara Suknamai - an actress and a runner-up in Miss Thailand Universe in 2005 - and Kaveporn Punpare, both members of Vichai's staff, pilot Eric Swaffer and passenger Izabela Roza Lechowicz

Members of the Leicester team including coach Claude Puel are due to fly to Thailand to pay their respects after an afternoon away match against Cardiff City Saturday. 'We all spoke about ... wanting to play, it's what Vichai would've wanted and that's what we are going to do,' striker Jamie Vardy said, adding that they would 'honour his name' with their performance.

In the first public reaction from the family, Vichai's youngest son Aiyawatt - better known by his nickname 'Top' (pictured with title winning manager Claudio Ranieri) - said in an Instagram post this week that his father had 'left me with a legacy to continue and I will do everything I can to carry on his big vision and dreams

Striker Vardy told Sky Sports on Friday: 'It'll be massively important. That's how we are.

'We're a close knit group like one big family and one of the main reasons for that is Vichai. So for us to be there is massively important.'

Manager Claude Puel had earlier said: 'I want to give the opportunity for players and staff to go to the funeral. We will see the logistics.

'Of course, the players want to go and support his family — his wife, son Top, all the family.

'They put us in their family and that was a special thing about him. The players travelled to Dubai and other places to have good moments with Vichai. For him the players were his children, his family.

'Sometimes he was not happy with their game but he would forgive them!'