Thailand is mourning the death of its former queen, Sirikit, who passed away aged 93. The Thai Royal Household Bureau announced that she died “peacefully” at 21:21 local time (14:21 GMT) on Friday at a Bangkok hospital, after battling multiple illnesses since 2019, including a recent blood infection.
Queen Sirikit was the widow of Thailand’s longest-reigning monarch, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who died in 2016. The couple were married for more than six decades and shared a deep bond that shaped Thailand’s modern monarchy. King Vajiralongkorn, their only son and current monarch, has ordered the Royal Household Bureau to organise a royal funeral. Her body will lie in state at the Grand Palace’s Dusit Thorne Hall in Bangkok, with the royal family set to observe a year of mourning.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has cancelled his planned trip to the ASEAN Summit in Malaysia to pay his respects.
Born in 1932, Sirikit met King Bhumibol while studying music in Paris, where her father served as the Thai ambassador to France. The two married on April 28, 1950, a week before his coronation. As a young royal couple, they embarked on global tours, meeting world leaders such as U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower, Queen Elizabeth II, and even music legend Elvis Presley.
During the 1960s, Queen Sirikit became an international fashion icon, frequently appearing on best-dressed lists. But beyond her elegance, she was deeply loved in Thailand, where she was regarded as the “mother of the nation.” Her birthday, August 12, has been celebrated as Mother’s Day since 1976.
After suffering a stroke in 2012, Queen Sirikit largely withdrew from public life. She is survived by her son, King Vajiralongkorn, and three daughters. Her passing marks the end of an era for the Thai monarchy and the people who revered her for her grace, compassion, and dedication to the nation.
