Thailand’s Queen Mother Sirikit, known for her grace and beauty, has passed away at the age of 93. She played an important role in bringing glamour and respect back to Thailand’s royal family after World War II.
According to the royal palace, Queen Sirikit had stayed out of the public eye since she suffered a stroke in 2012. She had been in the hospital since 2019 due to several health issues and recently developed a blood infection on October 17.
A one-year mourning period has been announced for the royal family and palace staff. The government also ordered all public offices to fly their flags at half-mast for one month, and government officials will observe mourning for a year.
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul cancelled his planned visit to the ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur because of the Queen Mother’s death. He said he would still travel briefly to Malaysia to sign a ceasefire agreement with Cambodia but would return to Thailand immediately afterward.
Queen Sirikit was married to King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Thailand’s longest-reigning monarch, who ruled for 70 years from 1946 until his death in 2016.
She was admired both in Thailand and around the world for her fashion sense and charm. During her 1960 visit to the United States, she attended a state dinner at the White House. Time magazine called her “svelte” and “archfeminist,” while the French newspaper L’Aurore described her as “ravishing.”
In 1976, her birthday, August 12, was declared Mother’s Day and became a national holiday in Thailand.
Her only son, King Maha Vajiralongkorn, took the throne after his father’s death in 2016. When he was crowned in 2019, Sirikit received the title of Queen Mother.
Queen Sirikit will be remembered as a beloved figure who brought beauty, dignity, and strength to Thailand’s royal family and the nation.