Style icon died at 93: Thailand’s long-time queen Sirikit is dead
Thailand Mourns the Loss of Queen Sirikit,Style Icon and Beloved Monarch
bangkok,Thailand – Queen Sirikit,the queen Mother of Thailand and a globally recognized style icon,has died at the age of 93,the royal family announced Friday evening (local time).The passing of the long-reigning monarch, who was repeatedly hospitalized in recent years, marks the end of an era for the Southeast Asian nation.The court has declared a year-long mourning period and will hold a funeral “with the highest royal honors.”
Though technically the royal mother following the 2016 death of her husband,King Bhumibol Adulyadej,and the 2019 coronation of their son,King Maha Vajiralongkorn,Sirikit remained deeply revered by the Thai people. Her birthday, August 12th, was celebrated annually as a national holiday and Mother’s Day, a testament to her enduring legacy.
Sirikit reigned as Queen of thailand for six and a half decades alongside King Bhumibol, earning the affection of the nation and international acclaim for her grace and fashion sense. in the 1950s and 60s, she captivated the world, appearing on the covers of prominent magazines like Vanity Fair, which dubbed her “Asia’s Jackie Kennedy,” and Paris Match, which hailed her as the “most beautiful queen ever.” She was widely considered the epitome of Asian elegance.
The former diplomat’s daughter married Bhumibol in April 1950, with her official coronation following shortly after.The couple, who had four children, frequently spent time in Switzerland and cultivated relationships within the European jet set.
Following a stroke in 2012, Sirikit’s public appearances became increasingly rare. Though her later years were marked by frailty, she maintained her renowned elegance. She was unable to attend her son’s coronation in May 2019 due to illness.
“Her eternal grace and devotion to the Thai nation will be remembered with deepest reverence,” the Thai government stated. News of her death quickly spread across social media this morning (local time), prompting an outpouring of grief and remembrance.