Former Thai Queen Sirikit Dies at 93 in Bangkok, Royal Funeral Planned

Brickinfo News Agency – Queen Sirikit, the mother of Thailand’s current monarch King Maha Vajiralongkorn, has died at the age of 93. The former queen, who was married to the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej for over six decades, passed away “peacefully” at a Hospital on Friday at 21:21 local time (14:21 GMT). Her death follows several illnesses she had suffered since 2019, including a blood infection earlier this month, according to the Thai Royal Household Bureau. King Vajiralongkorn has ordered the Bureau to organize a royal funeral, and the royal family will observe a year of mourning.

Queen Sirikit’s body is scheduled to lie in state at the Dusit Throne Hall within the Grand Palace in Bangkok. Her passing marks the end of a life deeply intertwined with the modern history of the Thai monarchy. Throughout her marriage to King Bhumibol, who passed away in 2016 as Thailand’s longest-reigning monarch, she was a central figure in the royal family. In the 1960s, she was frequently regarded as a global style icon, making international best-dressed lists as the couple embarked on extensive international travels, meeting figures such as US President Dwight Eisenhower, Queen Elizabeth II, and Elvis Presley.

Her birthday, August 12, has been observed as Mother’s Day in Thailand since 1976, recognizing her status as a key maternal figure for the country.

However, Queen Sirikit’s public appearances became rare after she suffered a stroke in 2012. She is survived by her son, King Vajiralongkorn, and her three daughters.