The Queen Mother Sirikit of Thailand, renowned for her rural development initiatives, traditional craft preservation and environmental protection efforts, passed away on Friday at age 93. She was the mother of the current King Vajiralongkorn and wife of the nation’s longest-reigning monarch.King Vajiralongkorn has directed members of the royal family to observe a year-long mourning period, the palace announced.“I knew this day would come since she had been unwell for some time and was in her 90s,” said 53-year-old housekeeper Sasis Putthasit in Bangkok on Saturday morning. “But I didn’t expect it to be today,” she told AFP. “I feel sad because she was like a mother to the nation — and now she’s gone.” According to a palace statement, Queen Mother Sirikit had been hospitalised since 2019, battling several ailments, including a blood infection earlier this month. “Her Majesty’s condition worsened until Friday, and she passed away at Chulalongkorn Hospital at age 93,” the statement read.She died in a Bangkok hospital, where she had been battling a blood infection since October 17, with her condition steadily deteriorating despite medical intervention, as reported by Associated Press. Her public appearances had diminished in recent years due to health issues, following the death of her husband, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, in October 2016.Following the demise, Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul cancelled his trip to Malaysia ahead of Saturday’s ASEAN Summit, and could miss the signing of a ceasefire deal with Cambodia, which US President Donald Trump is expected to witness this weekend. A Thai government spokesperson, quoted by Reuters, said officials would discuss how to proceed with the ceasefire ceremony and whether another official should sign the agreement after PM Charnvirakul cancelled his trip. It remains unclear if Anutin will travel to Kuala Lumpur on Sunday. The Thai cabinet is set to meet Saturday morning to finalise funeral arrangements.Meanwhile, Palace-released photographs from her 88th birthday showed her receiving visits from her son, King Maha Vajiralongkorn, and other royal family members at Chulalongkorn Hospital, where she was under long-term care.Despite being less prominent than her husband and son, Sirikit commanded significant influence and public affection. Her image adorned Thai homes, offices and public spaces nationwide, with her August 12 birthday celebrated as Mother’s Day. Her contributions ranged from assisting Cambodian refugees to forest conservation efforts.During Thailand’s political upheavals, her role faced increased scrutiny. Her perceived influence during periods of military coups and street protests became a subject of discussion. Her attendance at a protester’s funeral was widely interpreted as taking a political stance.Born into an aristocratic Bangkok family on August 12, 1932, Sirikit Kitiyakara’s parentage had royal connections within the Chakri dynasty. She studied in wartime Bangkok before moving to France with her diplomat father.At 16, she encountered the newly crowned king in Paris whilst studying music and languages. Their relationship developed during his recovery from a serious car accident in Switzerland. Their courtship included his poetic gestures and composition “I Dream of You.”Following their 1950 marriage and coronation, they pledged to “reign with righteousness for the benefit and happiness of the Siamese (Thai) people.” The royal couple had four children: the current King Maha Vajiralongkorn and princesses Ubolratana, Sirindhorn and Chulabhorn.Initial years of their marriage involved international diplomatic missions, but by the 1970s, they concentrated on domestic issues including rural poverty, hill tribe opium addiction and communist insurgency.Their annual schedule included countryside visits and over 500 official ceremonies. The fashion-conscious queen engaged with rural communities, where elderly women affectionately called her “daughter.”Despite urban speculation about palace politics and her lifestyle, she maintained rural popularity. Her SUPPORT foundation, established in 1976, trained villagers in traditional crafts. Her environmental initiatives included wildlife conservation projects and forest preservation programmes.She firmly believed in the monarchy’s significance, stating in a 1979 interview: “There are some in the universities who think the monarchy is obsolete. But I think Thailand needs an understanding monarch. At the call, ‘The king is coming,’ thousands will gather. The mere word king has something magic in it. It is wonderful.”
