Thailand Mourns the Passing of Queen Mother Sirikit
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Bangkok, thailand – october 25, 2025 โฃ08:15 ICT – Queen Sirikit, the beloved Queen Mother of โThailand, has died, marking the end of an era for โthe nation. She was 90โ years old. The passing of Queen Sirikit, consort to the late King bhumibol Adulyadej, is deeply mourned by Thais across the country and โaround the โฃworld.
Queen Sirikit’s decades-long dedication to improving the lives ofโ Thailand’s ruralโค population, coupled with her staunch support for the monarchy, โฃcemented her status as a revered figure. Her death followsโ the passing of King bhumibol in 2016, and leaves a โmeaningful void in the hearts of many. the nation now enters a period โฃof mourning, with flags โflown at half-mast and public events scaled back as aโ mark ofโ respect.Her son, King mahaโข Vajiralongkorn, currently reigns.
A Royal Marriage and Coronation
Born Mom Rajawongse Sirikit Kitiyakaraโค on August 12, โค1932, she married then-Prince bhumibol Adulyadej in 1950.โค The couple’s coronation ceremony later that same year saw them bothโข pledge to โ reign with โฃrighteousness โfor the โขbenefit and happiness of the Siamese (Thai) โpeople.
They had four children: current King Maha โVajiralongkorn, โand princessesโฃ Ubolratana, Sirindhorn and Chulabhorn.
In their early years as aโข royal โcouple, Kingโ Bhumibol and Queen Sirikit undertook numerous internationalโฃ trips as goodwill ambassadors, establishing strong relationships with โglobal leaders.
Focus on Thailand’sโ Rural Communities
By the โearly 1970s, the King and Queen shifted theirโข focus to addressingโค Thailand’s internalโค challenges, including โขwidespread rural poverty, the opium trade affecting hill tribes, and a growing communist insurgency. โขQueen Sirikit,known for herโฃ impeccable style,also embraced โฃvisiting remote villages,where she was affectionately called daughter
by older women.
Thousands ofโข Thai citizens sought her assistance with issues ranging from personal disputes to health concerns, and the Queen personally intervened โฃin many cases. Despite some criticism regarding palace affairs and her lifestyle in Bangkok, her popularity remained strong in rural areas.
In a 1979 interview with The Associated Press, she explained, Misunderstandings arise between people in rural areas and theโข rich, so-called civilized people in Bangkok.People in rural Thailand say they are neglected, and we try to fill thatโข gap by staying with them in remote areas.
Championing Development and Preservation
Royalโค development projects flourished throughout Thailand, many initiated and overseen directly โฃby the Queen. In 1976,โ she established the SUPPORT foundation, wich provided training to thousands of villagers in traditional thai crafts such as silk-weaving, jewelry-making,โข painting, and ceramics.
Her commitment to conservation extended to establishingโ wildlife breeding centers, open zoos,
and hatcheries dedicated to saving endangered sea turtles. The Forest Loves โฃWater and Little House in the forest projects highlighted the economic benefits of preserving forests and water resources.
Queen Sirikit firmly believed in the essential role of the monarchyโ in Thailand, stating in the 1979 AP interview, There are some in the universities who think the monarchy is obsolete.โ Butโข I think Thailand needs an understanding monarch. At the call, ‘The king is coming,’ thousands will gather. The mere word king hasโ something magic in it. It is fantastic.
key Dates and Initiatives
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1932 | Queen Sirikit born |
| 1950 | Marriage to King Bhumibol Adulyadej |
| 1950 | Coronation |
| 1976 | Establishment of โคSUPPORT Foundation |
| 1979 | Interview with The Associated Press |
| 2016 | King Bhumibol Adulyadej passes away |
| 2025 | Queen Sirikit passes away |
Did You Know?
Queen Sirikit’s SUPPORT foundation has been instrumental in preserving and promoting Thailand’s rich cultural heritage through traditional crafts, providing economic opportunities for countless villagers.
Proโ tip:
To learn more โคabout the Thai monarchy and its role in national development, visit the official website of the Royal Thai Embassy: https://thaiembdc.org/
The passing of Queen Sirikit marks a profound loss โฃfor Thailand. Her legacy of compassion, dedication, and commitment to her people will continue to inspire generations to come.
What are your fondest memories ofโ Queen Sirikit? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Please share this article โขtoโค honor her memory and inform others about her remarkable life.
queen Sirikit: A Lasting Legacy
Queen Sirikit’s influence extended far beyond her charitable work. She played a crucial role in modernizing Thailand’s image on the world โขstage, fostering internationalโ relations, and promoting a sense of national unity. Her emphasis on lasting developmentโ and cultural preservation remains highly relevant today, as Thailand navigates the challenges of globalization and environmental โchange. The monarchy in โThailand, while evolving, continues to be a central institution, and Queen Sirikit’s contributions โฃhave shaped its role โฃfor โdecades to come.
Frequently Asked questions aboutโค Queen Sirikit
What was queen Sirikit known for?
Queen Sirikit was renowned for her โdedication to improvingโ the lives of rural Thais, promoting traditional crafts throughโ the SUPPORT foundation, and her commitment to environmental โconservation.
When did Queen Sirikit become Queenโค of Thailand?
Queen Sirikit became Queen ofโ Thailand in 1950 upon her marriage to King โขBhumibol Adulyadej,โ and was formally crowned later that โsame year.
What is the SUPPORT foundation?
The SUPPORT โฃfoundation, established โby queen Sirikitโฃ in 1976, provides training โขand support to rural thai villagers in traditional crafts, helping themโ generate income and preserveโข their cultural โheritage.
What wasโค Queen Sirikit’s view on the โmonarchy?
Queen Sirikit believedโ the monarchy was a vital institution in Thailand,โข providing stability andโค guidance to the nation.
How did Queen Sirikit address rural poverty in โThailand?
Queen Sirikit and King Bhumibol Adulyadej initiated numerous royal development projects aimed at โalleviating โขruralโ poverty, improving healthcare, andโฃ promoting sustainable agriculture.