CaliToday (25/10/2025): Thailand's Her Majesty Queen Mother Sirikit, the deeply revered wife of the nation's longest-reigning monarch, the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, and mother of the current King Vajiralongkorn, has died at the age of 93.
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| People hold portraits of Thailand's former Queen Sirikit as they gather in front of Chulalongkorn Hospital in Bangkok where she passed away late Friday (Chanakarn Laosarakham) |
In an announcement late Friday, the Royal Palace stated that the Queen Mother passed away peacefully at Chulalongkorn Hospital, concluding a long period of illness. Her death marks the end of a historic era for Thailand, closing a chapter defined by the 66-year-long partnership between her and her husband, who was widely regarded as the "Father of the Nation."
The nation immediately entered a state of mourning. On Saturday, Thai news anchors on all major channels were seen wearing black during broadcasts as a sign of public grief.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul called her passing "a great loss to the nation," announcing he would delay his departure to a weekend summit of Southeast Asian leaders in Malaysia to pay his respects.
A Life of Devotion and Style
For more than half a century, Queen Sirikit was the most visible woman in Thailand, building a dual reputation as the nation's caring matriarch and as a global fashion icon.
In Thailand, the royal family is venerated, with many citizens treating its senior members as semi-divine figures. Their images are omnipresent, with gold-adorned portraits hanging in public spaces and private homes nationwide. Queen Sirikit, in particular, was affectionately known as the "Mother of the Nation."
Throughout her long marriage to King Bhumibol, who died in 2016, she was his constant companion. While the King was famed for his tireless work on rural development projects, Queen Sirikit was praised for her devotion to the people, her patronage of Thai culture, and her poise on the world stage.
During the 1960s, her elegance and sophisticated wardrobe during state visits captivated the West, with some international media featuring her on magazine covers and comparing her style to that of former US First Lady Jackie Kennedy. She was a passionate advocate for Thai craftsmanship, almost single-handedly popularizing Thai silk and turning it into a globally recognized luxury textile.
A Nation Grieves its "Mother Figure"
The Royal Palace said in a statement that Her Majesty had "suffered several illnesses" while hospitalized since 2019, including a severe blood infection earlier this month. "Her majesty's condition worsened until Friday and she passed away... at Chulalongkorn hospital at age 93," it added.
King Vajiralongkorn has assigned members of the royal family to begin a year-long mourning period, a testament to her central role in the dynasty.
While her advanced age and long illness meant the news was not entirely unexpected, it was met with profound sadness by the public, for whom she represents a link to the stability and reverence of her husband's long reign.
"I had heard that she had been unwell and, given that she was in her 90s, I knew this day would come," 53-year-old housekeeper Sasis Putthasit told AFP in the capital, Bangkok, on Saturday morning.
"But I didn't expect it to be today," Sasis said. "I feel sad because she was a mother figure to the country, and now she's gone."
Her death is seen as a pivotal moment for the nation, solidifying the end of the Bhumibol era.
Pavin Chachavalpongpun, a former Thai diplomat and academic who studies the monarchy, told AFP her passing "marks a profoundly significant event for the Thai Royal Family and the entire nation."
He noted this was "given her immense popularity and deep connection to the late king who remains deeply revered" by the Thai people. As the nation prepares for funeral rites, it reflects on the legacy of a Queen who helped define modern Thai identity.