Thailand is in mourning following the death of former Queen Sirikit, mother of the current monarch King Maha Vajiralongkorn. She died at the age of 93 on Friday, peacefully at a hospital in Bangkok, the Royal Household Bureau announced.
Queen Sirikit had been receiving medical care since 2019 for multiple health complications and was recently treated for a severe blood infection, the statement noted.
The former queen was the beloved wife of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Thailand’s longest-serving monarch, who ruled for seven decades until his death in 2016. The Royal Household has confirmed that King Vajiralongkorn has ordered a full royal funeral, with her body to rest in state at Dusit Thorne Hall in the Grand Palace. Members of the royal family will observe a year-long mourning period.
Sirikit’s life changed forever when she met King Bhumibol in Paris, where she was studying music while her father served as the Thai ambassador. In a 1980 BBC documentary, she humorously recalled their first encounter as “hate at first sight,” sharing how the young Bhumibol arrived three hours late to meet her.
The couple married on 28 April 1950, just days before King Bhumibol’s coronation in Bangkok. Throughout the 1960s, the royal pair became global figures, travelling extensively and meeting world leaders, including US President Dwight Eisenhower, Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II, and even music icon Elvis Presley. Sirikit’s elegance and fashion sense often earned her places on international best-dressed lists, further elevating her global image.
Queen Sirikit remains remembered not only for her royal role but also for her influence on culture, fashion, and humanitarian work in Thailand.
