Thailand’s former queen Sirikit dies aged 93

Queen Sirikit, mother of King Vajiralongkorn of Thailand, passed away at the age of 93.

He passed away “peacefully” at a hospital in Bangkok at 21:21 local time (14:21 GMT) on Friday night, according to Thailand’s Royal Household Office.

It was also stated that Sirikit had been “suffering from several illnesses” while in hospital since 2019, including a blood infection this month.

Queen Sirikit was married for more than 60 years to King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Thailand’s longest-reigning monarch, who died in 2016.

Queen Sirikit suffered a stroke in 2012 and was rarely seen in public afterwards.

She met her future husband while studying music in Paris, where her father was serving as the Thai ambassador to France.

The couple married on April 28, 1950, just a week before King Bhumibol was crowned in Bangkok.

Queen Sirikit and King Bhumibol traveled the world as a young couple in the 1960s, meeting U.S. presidents Dwight Eisenhower, the late Queen Elizabeth II. They met Elizabeth and Elvis Presley.

She frequently made international best-dressed lists throughout this decade.

In 1980, Queen Sirikit appeared in the BBC documentary The Soul of the Nation about the Thai monarchy.

Nadir said in the interview: “Thailand’s kings and queens have always been in close contact with the people and often regard the king as the father of the nation.

“That’s why we don’t have much of a private life, because we are seen as the father and mother of the nation.”

She was seen as an important maternal figure for the country, as her birthday was celebrated as Mother’s Day.