Thailand is in mourning following the death of Queen Mother Sirikit, the revered widow of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej and mother of King Maha Vajiralongkorn.
She passed away peacefully at the age of 93 on Friday night at Bangkok’s Chulalongkorn Hospital after battling multiple illnesses, including a recent blood infection, the Royal Household Bureau confirmed.
Her passing marks the end of an era, as Queen Sirikit had long been seen as a symbol of unity, grace, and compassion during the reign of her husband, Thailand’s longest-serving monarch.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has declared a national mourning period, cancelling his planned ASEAN summit trip to oversee funeral arrangements. The Queen Mother’s body will lie in state at the Grand Palace’s Dusit Thorne Hall, where members of the royal family and citizens will pay their respects. King Vajiralongkorn has decreed a one-year official mourning period for the royal family and royal servants.
Born in 1932, Sirikit Kitiyakara met King Bhumibol while studying in Paris and married him in April 1950, just before his coronation. The royal couple became beloved figures both at home and abroad, promoting Thailand’s modernization while upholding its traditions.
Queen Sirikit’s elegance and humanitarian work earned her admiration worldwide; she was often listed among the world’s best-dressed women and celebrated as the “Mother of the Nation.”
Her birthday, August 12, has been observed as Mother’s Day in Thailand since 1976, reflecting her enduring maternal bond with the Thai people.
Despite suffering a stroke in 2012 and retreating from public life, her image remained ever-present across the nation. Queen Mother Sirikit leaves behind a legacy of dignity, compassion, and national devotion that continues to shape Thailand’s monarchy and collective memory.
