Sad news today! The Thai Royal Court has announced the passing of Queen Mother Sirikit of Thailand, who has died at the age of 93 at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital at 9.21 p.m. on October 24th. The glamorous Princess was the popular Thai Queen and cultural icon for almost seven decades and the world’s longest-serving Queen Consort
The eldest daughter of Prince Nakkhatra Mangala Kitiyakara and Mom Luang Bua Kitiyakara, her name “Sirikit,” meaning “Glory of Kitiyakara,” was bestowed by Queen Rambhai Barni, consort of King Rama VII. Growing up at the Deves Palace in Bangkok, Princess Sirikit studied in Thailand, England, France, and Switzerland, while her father served as the Thai Ambassador to the United Kingdom.
After meeting in Switzerland in 1948, in 1950, Princess Sirikit married King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand at the at Srapathum Palace in Bangkok, just a week before his coronation. Afterwards, the King and Queen returned to Switzerland to compete their education until 1952.
The King and Queen had four children; Princess Ubol Ratana, King Maha Vajiralongkorn, Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn and Princess Chulabhorn, who grew up at the Dusit Palace near Bangkok. In 1956, Queen Sirikit served as Regent while the King undertook the traditional period as a Buddhist monk. She performed her duties so well that she was officially named ‘Regent of Thailand’.
King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit’s landmark Tour of Europe in 1960 established Thailand’s brand on the world’s stage and established Queen Sirikit as a cultural and fashion icon, who was the supreme Thai cultural icon, who wrote a book, and composed a couple of songs and films.
Since 2012, Queen Sirikit was regularly in and out of hospital and had been in increasingly poor health in recent years, making no public appearances.
Following the medical team treating Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother having requested royal permission for Her Majesty to proceed to stay at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society, since September 7, 2019, to monitor various bodily systems, as has been publicly known.
During Her Majesty’s stay at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society, Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother fell ill several times, and the medical team discovered abnormalities in various systems, requiring continuous medical treatment
Since October 17, 2025, Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother fell ill from sepsis (bloodstream infection). Although the medical team provided treatment to the best of their ability, Her condition gradually deteriorated.
His Majesty the King has issued a Royal Command for the Bureau of the Royal Household to arrange the Royal Funeral with the highest honors according to royal tradition. The Royal Body will lie in state at the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall in the Grand Palace. His Majesty has graciously granted permission for members of the Royal Family and royal servants to observe mourning for a period of one year from the date of passing.
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