Thailand Mourns Queen Mother Sirikit, 93, as Royal Mourning Begins
Thailand Mourns Queen Mother Sirikit, 93, as Royal Mourning Begins
Thailand declares a year of royal mourning after Queen Mother Sirikit dies at 93, with leaders adjusting ASEAN plans and reflecting on her charitable legacy.
Thailand’s Queen Mother Sirikit has died aged 93, the Royal Household bureau announced. She had been hospitalised since 2019 due to several illnesses and developed a bloodstream infection on 17 October before passing away late on Friday. A mourning period of one year has been declared for members of the royal family and household.
Sirikit, the wife of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, helped lead a postwar revival of Thailand’s monarchy and was a visible symbol of maternal virtue for many Thais. Though she had largely stayed out of the public eye since a stroke in 2012, her charitable work and efforts to preserve traditional crafts and protect the environment left a lasting imprint on the country.
Her death prompted a shift in political and diplomatic schedules. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul initially cancelled his trip to the ASEAN Leaders’ Summit in Malaysia because of the Queen Mother’s death, but he later said he would attend a ceremony marking a ceasefire with Cambodia that US President Donald Trump was expected to attend.
Sirikit’s passing also reignites discussion about the monarchy’s role in Thai society, a topic tightly governed by lese-majeste laws. Born in 1932, she became a central figure in Thailand’s modern history, contributing to royal projects for the rural poor and to initiatives aimed at preserving crafts and the natural environment. Her death marks the end of an era for a royal family long entwined with the country’s social and political fabric.
Cover image source: Thailand’s Queen Mother Sirikit has died at age 93 🔗
