Queen Sirikit, the mother of Thailand's King Vajiralongkorn, has died at the age of 93. The Thai Royal Household Bureau announced her passing on Friday at 21:21 local time (14:21 GMT) in a Bangkok hospital, stating she passed away "peacefully."
Death Announcement
Queen Sirikit had been hospitalized since 2019 and, according to the Thai Royal Household Bureau, had experienced "several illnesses," including a blood infection this month. She was married for over six decades to King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Thailand's longest-reigning monarch, who passed away in 2016.
Royal Funeral and Mourning
King Vajiralongkorn has issued an order for the Thai Royal Household Bureau to organize a royal funeral. Queen Sirikit's body will lie in state at the Grand Palace's Dusit Thorne Hall in Bangkok. Members of the Thai royal family will observe a year of mourning.
Early Life and Marriage
Queen Sirikit met King Bhumibol in Paris, where she was studying music and her father served as Thai ambassador to France. In a 1980 BBC documentary, she was quoted as saying, "It was hate at first sight," referring to their first meeting where he arrived late. The couple married on April 28, 1950, shortly before King Bhumibol's coronation.
Public Role and Recognition
During the 1960s, Queen Sirikit and King Bhumibol traveled internationally, meeting figures such as US President Dwight Eisenhower, Queen Elizabeth II, and Elvis Presley. In her youth and during these international travels, Queen Sirikit was recognized for her style and appeared on international best-dressed lists.