Thailand Mourns The Passing Of Queen Mother Sirikit at 93

BANGKOK—Thailand is officially mourning the death of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother. She was a highly respected figure who was Queen Consort for over six decades and was widely known as the “Mother of the Nation.” The Royal Household Bureau announced that the Queen Mother died peacefully at Chulalongkorn Hospital in Bangkok late on Friday, 24 October 2025, at the age of 93.

The Palace confirmed that Her Majesty had been in the hospital since 2019 for various health issues. Her condition worsened due to a bloodstream infection she developed on October 17, which ultimately caused her death. The death of Queen Sirikit, the wife of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, is a major loss for the nation.

Following the news, her son, King Maha Vajiralongkorn, has ordered a year-long mourning period for the Royal Family and Royal Court officials. National grief was immediate; Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul canceled his planned trip to the ASEAN Summit to manage the official ceremonies.

Born on 12 August 1932, Sirikit Kitiyakara married King Bhumibol Adulyadej in 1950, shortly before he was crowned. As Queen, she became very popular in Thailand and overseas. She was often seen as an international style icon due to her elegance and her strong support for Thai silk and traditional crafts. Her birthday, August 12, became the national Mother’s Day, showing her importance as a mother figure to the country.

The Queen Mother’s legacy is her strong commitment to helping the Thai people, especially in rural areas. She started many royal projects for public health, women's rights, and protecting the environment. These included saving Thailand's forests and promoting handicrafts to give extra income to poor communities.

She was officially named Queen Mother after her husband died in 2016. She had mostly stayed out of the public eye since suffering a stroke in 2012. However, her great influence and her lasting connection to the late King made her a steady, reassuring presence throughout Thailand’s modern history. Her body will be placed in the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall in the Grand Palace, where her funeral will be held with the highest royal honours.