Thailand is in national mourning following the death of Queen Mother Sirikit, one of the most revered figures in the country’s modern history. The Royal Palace announced late Friday that the former queen consort and mother of King Maha Vajiralongkorn passed away peacefully at Bangkok’s Chulalongkorn Hospital at 9:21 p.m. She was 93.
End of an Era for Thailand’s Royal Family
Queen Sirikit, widow of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX)—Thailand’s longest-reigning monarch—was a beloved maternal figure for generations of Thais. Her passing has brought the nation together in shared grief, evoking memories of the profound mourning that followed King Bhumibol’s death in 2016.
According to the royal statement, “Her Majesty’s condition worsened until Friday, and she passed away at 9:21 p.m. … at Chulalongkorn Hospital at the age of 93.” The Royal Household Bureau said her remains will be enshrined at the Grand Palace in Bangkok, where royal rituals and prayers will take place.
King Vajiralongkorn Declares a Year of Mourning
Following the announcement, King Maha Vajiralongkorn decreed a one-year official mourning period for members of the royal family and palace staff, according to Thai PBS. Flags across Thailand have been lowered to half-mast, and government offices, temples, and schools are expected to hold remembrance ceremonies.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul immediately canceled his planned flight to Malaysia—where he was to attend the ASEAN Leaders’ Summit—to convene an emergency cabinet meeting in Bangkok. The meeting, attended by ministers dressed in black, focused on funeral arrangements and national mourning guidelines.
“The mood was solemn,” reported Thai news outlet The Nation. “All government officials expressed deep sorrow over the passing of the Queen Mother.”
Anutin is expected to travel to Malaysia on Sunday, the same day US President Donald Trump is scheduled to witness the signing of a Thailand–Cambodia peace accord after recent border tensions.
A Life of Royal Duty and Grace
Born Mom Rajawongse Sirikit Kitiyakara on August 12, 1932, in Bangkok, she was a member of the aristocratic Kitiyakara family. Her father, Prince Nakkhatra Mangkala, served as Thailand’s ambassador to France, where Sirikit met then-Prince Bhumibol Adulyadej in 1948.
Their romance blossomed in Paris, and the pair married on April 28, 1950, just a week before Bhumibol’s coronation as King Rama IX. As queen consort, Sirikit became an enduring symbol of elegance, faith, and compassion, earning both domestic and international admiration.
The couple had four children: King Vajiralongkorn, Princess Ubolratana, Princess Sirindhorn, and Princess Chulabhorn.
The Queen of the People
Queen Sirikit’s public role extended far beyond ceremonial duties. In the 1960s and 1970s, she accompanied King Bhumibol on extensive tours of Thailand’s rural regions, where the royal couple launched social development initiatives aimed at alleviating poverty, protecting the environment, and improving rural education.
She founded the Queen Sirikit Foundation and championed women’s empowerment, traditional Thai crafts, and cultural preservation—efforts that continue today through the Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles.
In a 1979 interview with the Associated Press, Sirikit reflected on her mission:
“People in rural Thailand say they are neglected. We try to fill that gap by staying with them in remote areas.”
Her compassion and advocacy earned her a reputation as the “Mother of the Nation.” Her birthday, August 12, is celebrated annually as Mother’s Day in Thailand, marked by nationwide ceremonies and acts of charity.
Thailand’s Fashion Icon and Global Diplomat
In her younger years, Queen Sirikit was renowned internationally for her grace and style, often compared to Jacqueline Kennedy and Queen Elizabeth II. During state visits across Europe and the United States, she wore Thai silk gowns that highlighted the nation’s craftsmanship on the world stage.
Her influence on fashion was immortalized in 1990 with the opening of The Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre, named in her honor. She was regarded not just as a royal consort but also as a modern ambassador of Thai culture and soft power.
Health Challenges and Withdrawal from Public Life
By the 1980s, Sirikit’s health began to deteriorate, leading to fewer public appearances. After suffering a stroke in 2012, she largely retired from public life, receiving long-term medical care at Chulalongkorn Hospital from 2019 until her passing.
Despite her absence, Thais continued to revere her as a living embodiment of dignity and maternal love. Images of the Queen Mother have long adorned public spaces, homes, and temples throughout Thailand—symbols of devotion to the royal family.
Political Turbulence and Royal Loyalty
In the politically charged 2000s, as Thailand grappled with social unrest between royalist Yellow Shirt movements and populist Red Shirt factions, Queen Sirikit occasionally appeared in politically symbolic gestures.
Her attendance at the 2008 funeral of a Yellow Shirt protester was seen by some as an expression of sympathy toward royalist causes. Nonetheless, even amid the political polarization that gripped Thailand, she remained deeply respected by the majority of Thais.
During the student-led protests of 2020 and 2021, demonstrators called for reform of the monarchy, yet few criticized the late Queen Mother directly. Protesters focused their ire on institutional reforms, not the Queen herself—reflecting the enduring affection she commanded.
National Mourning and Tributes
As news of her passing spread, thousands gathered outside Chulalongkorn Hospital and the Grand Palace, many holding portraits of Sirikit in her youth. Devotees lit candles, laid white flowers, and sang royal anthems in tribute.
Social media platforms across Thailand were flooded with condolence messages, photographs, and black-ribbon symbols. Television networks switched to monochrome broadcasts, and public events were postponed or canceled.
“Her Majesty’s passing marks the end of an era,” said one Bangkok resident outside the Grand Palace. “She was our mother, our guide, and our light.”
Remembering the Legacy of Queen Sirikit
Queen Mother Sirikit’s legacy endures through the charitable foundations and cultural institutions she established. Her lifelong dedication to social development, women’s empowerment, and rural welfare continues to shape Thailand’s social fabric.
Her passing, while deeply mourned, also invites reflection on the continuity of Thailand’s Chakri Dynasty, now under King Vajiralongkorn (Rama X). The transition underscores both the resilience and the evolving role of the Thai monarchy in the 21st century.
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