Thailand's Queen Mother Sirikit Passes Away at 93

Thailand's Queen Mother Sirikit passed away on the evening of the 24th, at the age of 93.

Sirikit was the mother of the current King, Maha Vajiralongkorn. She had rarely appeared in public since suffering a stroke in 2012.

The Royal Household Bureau issued a statement in the early hours of the 25th: “Her condition continued to deteriorate, and she passed away at 9:21 p.m. on the 24th at Chulalongkorn Hospital, aged 93.”

According to the statement, since being hospitalized in 2019, the Queen Mother suffered from multiple illnesses, including a recent blood infection this month.

King Vajiralongkorn has instructed the Royal Household Bureau to hold a state funeral for the Queen Mother, and has ordered members of the royal family and palace officials to observe a one-year mourning period from the date of her passing.

After holding a special cabinet meeting, Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin announced that starting immediately, all government agencies, state-owned enterprises, and all levels of schools will lower their flags to half-mast for 30 days of mourning. All civil servants, employees of state-owned enterprises, and government staff must wear mourning attire from today, with a mourning period of one year.

Anutin said that ordinary citizens can express their condolences as they see fit. As the subjects of Queen Mother Sirikit, he hopes everyone will cooperate—if unable to wear black, they should choose subdued, non-bright colors to show grief, with a recommended mourning period of 90 days.

Accompanying the King on Overseas Visits, Sirikit's Fashion Sense Widely Praised

Born in 1932, Sirikit married Bhumibol in 1950 and was conferred the title of Queen Mother in 2019.

Bhumibol was Thailand's longest-reigning monarch, ruling for 70 years since ascending the throne in 1946. Sirikit was often by his side, and together they won the hearts of the people through charitable endeavors.

Bhumibol passed away on October 13, 2016, at the age of 88.

Whenever they traveled abroad, Sirikit's beauty and fashion sense were lauded by the global media. During the 1960s, she received the U.S. President and numerous international celebrities, including "the King of Rock and Roll" Elvis Presley, and frequently appeared on the covers of Western magazines.

During her 1960 visit to the United States and attendance at a White House state dinner, Time Magazine described her as “slim” and “exuding a strong feminine presence.” France's Le Monde called her “radiantly charming.”

Meeting Bhumibol in Paris

Sirikit was the daughter of Thailand's ambassador to France and enjoyed a privileged upbringing. She met Bhumibol while studying music and languages in Paris. Bhumibol himself spent part of his childhood in Switzerland.

In a BBC documentary, she said that it wasn't “love at first sight” for them but actually “disliked each other on first meeting,” adding that he was late the first time they met, “but later they fell in love.” They spent time together in Paris, got engaged in 1949, and married a year later in Thailand, when she was just 17.

Sirikit was always stylish and collaborated with French fashion designer Balmain to create stunning outfits from Thai silk. She supported the preservation of traditional weaving and is regarded as a driving force behind the revival of Thailand's silk industry.