Thailand’s Queen Mother Sirikit’s State Funeral: Crowds Line Up to Pay Respects

(Bangkok, 27th) The state funeral of Thailand’s Queen Mother Sirikit was held on Sunday at the Grand Palace in Bangkok, with many people from across the country traveling to the capital to mourn and bid farewell.
On Sunday (October 26), Sirikit’s body was transferred from Chulalongkorn Hospital to the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall at the Grand Palace for lying in state. A large number of mourners dressed in black gathered early in the morning outside the nearby Sanam Luang (Royal Field), as well as along the route of the cortege, awaiting participation in the mourning ceremony.
The Royal Household Bureau announced that King Vajiralongkorn has approved public visitation after the 15-day royal funeral ceremony. From November 9, the public may enter the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall to pay final respects to the Queen Mother. Before then, mourners can pay their tributes in front of her portrait at the Sahathai Samakhom Pavilion of the Grand Palace.
Sirikit was the consort of the late King Bhumibol, the longest-reigning monarch of Thailand, and the mother of Vajiralongkorn. She passed away on Friday (24th), in the evening, at Chulalongkorn Hospital, at the age of 93.
The King ordered the highest level of royal funeral rites for the Queen Mother, with royal family members and palace officials observing a year’s mourning from her date of passing. Authorities will hold a grand cremation ceremony after the official one-year mourning period.

As the lifelong companion of Thailand’s longest-reigning monarch King Bhumibol, Queen Mother Sirikit was deeply loved by the people. According to AFP, most people at a supermarket and a shopping street in central Bangkok were dressed in traditional black or white mourning clothes to mourn the Queen Mother.
Asika, 56, traveled from Nonthaburi Province, about 20 kilometers from Bangkok, hoping to pay her respects to the Queen Mother. She said, the Queen Mother served the nation and the people all her life, supported various ethnic groups, and made tireless efforts to promote Thai handicrafts, which was admirable.

Thayabong, 65, said she had seen the Queen Mother several times since she was 15 when the Queen Mother made official visits. “The Queen Mother would ask young people where they were from, and whether they had eaten. Her kindness was touching... The Queen Mother truly improved the lives of people throughout Thailand.”
The whole of Thailand mourned for Sirikit, and Prime Minister Anutin even shortened his trip to Malaysia, rushing back to Thailand after attending the ASEAN summit opening, the signing ceremony of the Thailand-Cambodia peace agreement, and meeting US President Trump on Sunday. 

On Sunday night, Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement expressing deep sorrow at the passing of Sirikit and conveying condolences to the Thai royal family, government, and people. In addition, President Tharman sent a condolence letter to King Vajiralongkorn on behalf of the people of Singapore; Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong sent a condolence letter to Thai Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin, and Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan sent condolences to Thai Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara.
On his way to attend the ASEAN summit in Malaysia, former US President Trump posted a message on social media expressing condolences to the people of Thailand. On Sunday, Chinese President Xi Jinping also sent a condolence telegram to the Thai King.
During the period of national mourning, the Tourism Authority of Thailand announced the postponement of the grand fireworks and light show for the Loy Krathong Festival originally scheduled on the Chao Phraya River from November 1 to December 15; other cultural activities will also be greatly reduced in scale. Famous tourist sites, including the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha), will also be closed to visitors from today until November 8 due to the Queen Mother’s funeral.

As for the 33rd Southeast Asian Games to be held in Thailand in December this year, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports has confirmed that they will proceed as scheduled, but the format of the opening and closing ceremonies will be adjusted to match the atmosphere of mourning.

Although tourism activities have not been completely suspended, international media have reminded audiences to maintain decorum while traveling to Thailand during this period: avoid dressing in bright or revealing clothes, refrain from making noise, drinking alcohol, engaging in celebrations in public places, and avoid commenting on the royal family or local politics, so as not to violate lèse-majesté laws.