Queen Sirikit, mother of Thailand’s King Vajiralongkorn, has died at the age of 93. The Thai Royal Household Bureau announced her passing occurred peacefully at 21:21 local time (14:21 GMT) on Friday night at a Bangkok hospital. Her health had declined over several years, with reports indicating various illnesses since 2019, including a blood infection this month.
Queen Sirikit was married to King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Thailand’s longest-reigning monarch, for more than six decades until his death in 2016. Following a stroke in 2012, she made few public appearances. The couple met while she was studying music in Paris, where her father served as the Thai ambassador to France. They were married on April 28, 1950, just one week before King Bhumibol’s coronation in Bangkok.
In the 1960s, the royal couple traveled extensively and met various prominent figures, including U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower, the late Queen Elizabeth II, and musical icon Elvis Presley. During this time, she was often featured on international best-dressed lists.
Queen Sirikit’s role in public life extended beyond fashion; she was the subject of a BBC documentary titled “Soul of a Nation” in 1980. In a rare interview from that time, she spoke about the close relationship between the Thai monarchy and the populace, stating that they often regarded the king as a father figure. This connection contributed to her recognition as a maternal figure for the country, with her birthday celebrated as Mother’s Day in Thailand.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp8ed1ednjdo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss