Thailand Announces the Death of "The Queen Mother" at 93 Years

SadaNews - The Thai Royal Palace announced today (Saturday) that the Queen Mother of Thailand, Sirikit, who brought glamour and elegance to the monarchy after the war, has passed away at the age of 93.

The Cabinet is scheduled to meet today to discuss funeral arrangements, with the Thai government spokesperson stating that Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul canceled his trip to attend the ASEAN leaders' summit in Malaysia due to the death of Queen Mother Sirikit.

Sirikit has been absent from the public scene since she suffered a stroke in 2012.

Her husband, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, was Thailand's longest-reigning monarch, ruling for 70 years from 1946. She was by his side for most of that time and won the hearts of the Thai people with their charitable works.

When they traveled abroad, she also caught the attention of the global media with her beauty and distinctive taste in fashion.

During a visit to the United States in 1960 that included a formal dinner at the White House, Time magazine described her as "graceful and elegant."

Sirikit Kitiyakara was born in 1932, the same year Thailand transitioned from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy. She was the daughter of the Thai ambassador to France and lived a rich and distinguished life.

While studying music and language in Paris, she met King Bhumibol, who spent part of his childhood in Switzerland.

She stated in a BBC documentary, "It was love at first sight," noting that he arrived late to their first meeting.

The couple spent some time together in Paris and became engaged in 1949. They married in Thailand a year later when she was 17 years old.

Sirikit, known for her elegance, collaborated with French designer Pierre Balmain to create eye-catching outfits made from Thai silk. Through her support for the preservation of traditional weaving crafts, she is credited with helping to revitalize the silk industry in Thailand.

For over four decades, she traveled repeatedly with the king to remote Thai villages where she promoted development projects for the rural poor, and her activities were broadcast live at night in the royal news in the country.

In 1976, her birthday on August 12 became Mother's Day and a national holiday in Thailand.

Her only son, the current king Maha Vajiralongkorn, also known as Rama X, succeeded King Bhumibol after his death in 2016, and at his coronation in 2019, Sirikit's official title became the Queen Mother.

Formally, the monarchy stands above politics in Thailand, which has experienced a history dominated by coups and unstable governments. However, at times, members of the royal family, including Sirikit, have intervened or taken actions seen as political.

Many Thais will remember her for her charitable work and as a symbol of maternal virtue.

The Queen Mother Sirikit had four children: King Maha and three daughters.