Thailand is in mourning following the death of former Queen Sirikit, the mother of King Vajiralongkorn and widow of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej. The Royal Palace announced that she passed away on Friday evening at Chulalongkorn Hospital in Bangkok at the age of 93.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul described her passing as “a great loss to the nation,” adding that he would delay his attendance at a regional summit to pay his respects. The palace confirmed that Queen Sirikit had been hospitalised since 2019, suffering from various illnesses, including a recent blood infection.
King Vajiralongkorn has declared a year-long mourning period, with members of the royal family leading the observances. From early Saturday, news anchors appeared on television dressed in black a traditional sign of mourning in Thailand.
Throughout her 66-year marriage to King Bhumibol, who reigned from 1946 until his death in 2016, Queen Sirikit was admired for her grace, compassion, and dedication to the Thai people. Often compared by Western media to Jacqueline Kennedy for her elegance, she was a global style icon in the 1960s and a national matriarch at home.
Known affectionately as the “Mother of the Nation,” her birthday, August 12, was designated as Thailand’s official Mother’s Day. She accompanied her husband on numerous visits to rural communities, fostering development and humanitarian efforts.
Public tributes have poured in from across the nation. “She cared for the Thai people the way parents love their children,” said Bangkok shop owner Tanyaporn Arammetha.
Queen Sirikit’s body will lie in state at the Grand Palace’s Dusit Thorne Hall, where mourners will pay their final respects. Her passing marks the end of an era for Thailand’s revered royal family, following the 2016 death of King Bhumibol.
As the nation dons black once more, Thais remember their queen as both a symbol of unity and a guiding motherly presence.
