Thailand Mourns as Beloved Queen Mother Sirikit Dies at 93

Thailand is in mourning following the death of Queen Mother Sirikit, a cherished figure who devoted her life to uplifting rural communities and preserving the nation’s traditional arts. She passed away in Bangkok on Friday at the age of 93.

The Royal Household Bureau confirmed that the Queen Mother died after battling a severe blood infection. Despite intensive medical care, her condition worsened over the past week.

Sirikit, widow of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, had lived largely out of public view in recent years due to ill health. Her husband, revered as a symbol of unity and stability, died in 2016 after a 70-year reign.

Often referred to as the “Mother of the Nation,” Queen Sirikit was deeply admired for her compassion, elegance, and tireless efforts to improve the lives of Thailand’s poor. Her August 12 birthday is celebrated annually as Mother’s Day — a reflection of the affection she inspired across the country.

Born into an aristocratic Bangkok family on August 12, 1932, Sirikit Kitiyakara met her future husband while studying in France, where her father served as ambassador. Their romance began when she helped care for him after a car accident, and the two married in 1950 — just before his coronation.

Throughout their marriage, the royal couple became symbols of modern Thai monarchy, blending tradition with a renewed connection to ordinary citizens. Together, they traveled across Thailand to address poverty, promote education, and support rural development.

In 1976, Queen Sirikit established the SUPPORT Foundation to train villagers in silk weaving, ceramics, jewelry-making, and other crafts — empowering rural communities while preserving centuries-old traditions. Her environmental initiatives, including wildlife breeding programs and forest preservation campaigns, earned her the title “Green Queen.”

While Queen Sirikit was widely loved, her influence was not without controversy. Her public appearance at the funeral of a political protester in the 2000s was seen by some as a rare political statement in a country where the monarchy’s neutrality is sacred.

Yet her deep bond with Thailand’s rural population endured. “People in rural Thailand say they are neglected, and we try to fill that gap by staying with them in remote areas,” she once told the Associated Press.

Following the announcement of her death, mourners gathered outside Chulalongkorn Hospital in Bangkok, clutching her portraits and offering prayers. Her son, King Maha Vajiralongkorn, is expected to lead nationwide mourning ceremonies in the coming days.

As Thailand reflects on her legacy, Queen Sirikit is remembered not only as a royal consort but as a mother figure whose grace, compassion, and patriotism shaped an era.