Thailand’s former Queen Sirikit, mother of the reigning King Vajiralongkorn and wife of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, passed away late Friday at the age of 93, the royal palace announced.
Her death marks the end of an era for the Thai monarchy, as she was regarded by many as a maternal figure and a symbol of grace and devotion throughout her long reign beside Thailand’s longest-serving monarch.
“The loss is a great one for the nation,” Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on Saturday, noting that he would postpone his trip to the Southeast Asian leaders’ summit in Malaysia to honor her memory.
Deeply revered by the Thai people, Queen Sirikit was both a fashion icon and a nurturing figure. Her sense of style drew international attention, earning her comparisons to former US First Lady Jackie Kennedy and features in leading Western magazines.
“I knew she had been unwell, but I didn’t expect it to be today,” said 53-year-old housekeeper Sasis Putthasit in Bangkok. “She was a mother figure to the country, and now she’s gone.”
The palace revealed that the Queen had been hospitalised since 2019, battling several illnesses, including a recent blood infection. “Her majesty’s condition worsened until Friday, and she passed away… at Chulalongkorn Hospital at age 93,” the statement said.
King Vajiralongkorn has ordered a year-long mourning period for the royal family, and Thai news anchors appeared on television wearing black as a national sign of mourning.
Her passing, according to academic and former Thai diplomat Pavin Chachavalpongpun, “marks a profoundly significant event for the Thai Royal Family and the entire nation, given her immense popularity and deep connection to the late king who remains deeply revered.”
Throughout her marriage to King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who reigned from 1946 to 2016, Queen Sirikit played an active role both domestically and internationally. In the 1960s, she mingled with world leaders and celebrities such as US presidents and Elvis Presley, while back home she journeyed to rural communities to meet ordinary Thais.
Known as the “Mother of the Nation,” her birthday was declared Thailand’s official Mother’s Day. For many, she and the late king represented the embodiment of unity and compassion. “She cared about Thai people the way parents love their children,” said store owner Tanyaporn Arammetha.
The current Chakri dynasty has ruled Thailand since 1782, though the succession after King Vajiralongkorn remains uncertain, as he has yet to name an heir. He has seven children, but only his 20-year-old son, Dipangkorn Rasmijoti, remains officially recognised.
In recent years, the royal family has faced public dissent, with youth-led protests in 2020 calling for political reforms, including changes to the monarchy. While the monarchy is constitutionally above politics, Queen Sirikit’s presence at the 2008 funeral of a royalist protester once sparked controversy.
Her withdrawal from public life due to illness in her later years was met with quiet respect, as strict lese majeste laws limited discussion about her health and private life.
As with the death of King Bhumibol in 2016, Thailand is expected to observe a long mourning period. The late queen’s body will lie in state at the Grand Palace’s Dusit Thorne Hall in Bangkok, where citizens will pay their respects.
“She and the late king were guiding figures for Thailand,” said Siraphob Sutthisalakorn, an employee of a frozen food company. “They are watching us from heaven.”
What You Should Know
Former Queen Sirikit of Thailand, revered as the “Mother of the Nation,” played a central role in shaping the country’s modern monarchy alongside her husband, King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
Known for her elegance, compassion, and devotion to her people, she was a unifying national figure for over six decades. Her death marks the passing of one of Thailand’s most beloved royals, whose influence bridged tradition, diplomacy, and cultural identity.
