Thailand’s Queen Mother Sirikit Dies at 93

Thailand’s Queen Mother Sirikit has died at 93 after battling a blood infection. The widow of King Bhumibol Adulyadej was revered for her charity and cultural work. Her August 12 birthday remains Thailand’s National Mother’s Day.

Thailand's Queen Mother Sirikit passed away at the age of 93 in a Bangkok hospital late on Friday, according to an announcement by the Royal Household Bureau. Her death marks the end of an era for Thailand’s royal family, as she was one of the country’s most revered and long-serving royals.

The Queen Mother had been suffering from a blood infection since October 17 and had been under medical supervision. In the last few years, she had largely withdrawn from public life due to deteriorating health. Her husband, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who ruled Thailand for seven decades and was deeply loved by his people, died in October 2016, leaving behind a legacy of stability and national unity.

Queen Sirikit and King Bhumibol were married on April 28, 1950, just one week before his coronation on May 5. His coronation had been delayed for four years as he returned to Switzerland to complete his university education. King Bhumibol ascended the throne in 1946 after the tragic death of his 20-year-old brother, King Ananda Mahidol, who died from a gunshot wound in circumstances that remain one of the great mysteries in Thai history.

Sirikit Kitiyakara was born in Bangkok on August 12, 1932, during a period of major political transition as Thailand shifted from an absolute to a constitutional monarchy. She was the daughter of a diplomat, Prince Nakkhatra Mangkala, who was a minor royal and Thailand’s ambassador to France. It was in Paris that Sirikit met her distant cousin, the young Bhumibol Adulyadej, then studying in Switzerland. Their relationship blossomed while Bhumibol was recovering from a car accident that cost him the sight in one eye, and they eventually married when Sirikit was just 17 years old.

Their marriage became one of the longest royal unions in the world, lasting nearly 70 years. Together, they had four children — three daughters and a son, King Vajiralongkorn, who succeeded his father on the throne. Queen Sirikit played a key role as both consort and mother, supporting King Bhumibol throughout his reign and participating in national development projects that focused on rural empowerment, cultural preservation, and women’s welfare.

Renowned for her grace, intelligence, and dedication to her people, Queen Sirikit was widely admired both within Thailand and internationally. She was instrumental in promoting Thai arts, crafts, and textiles, and her efforts helped preserve many traditional practices that might otherwise have been lost to modernization. Her compassion and charitable initiatives earned her the title “Mother of the Thai Nation,” reflecting the deep affection the Thai people felt toward her.

In honor of her contributions, Thailand celebrates National Mother’s Day on August 12 — Queen Sirikit’s birthday. The day, which is a public holiday, is dedicated not only to honoring the Queen but also to expressing love and gratitude toward mothers across the country. On this day, Thais adorn their homes and public spaces with jasmine flowers — a symbol of purity and maternal love — and participate in ceremonies to pay tribute to their mothers and to the Queen Mother herself.

Even after stepping away from public duties in her later years, Queen Sirikit remained a respected and beloved symbol of unity and motherhood in Thailand. Her death marks a solemn moment for the Thai nation, which now mourns a woman who devoted her life to her family, her king, and her country.