Queen Sirikit, Thailand’s revered Queen Mother and longest-serving consort, has died at the age of 93, leaving behind a legacy woven into the very fabric of modern Thai history. The Bureau of the Royal Household confirmed that she passed away late on Friday, October 24, 2025, in Bangkok after succumbing to sepsis—a development that marks the end of an era for the Thai monarchy.
According to a statement from the Bureau of the Royal Household, Queen Sirikit’s son, King Maha Vajiralongkorn, has requested that the royal funeral be arranged with the highest honors. Her body will lie in state at the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall in the Grand Palace, a gesture reflecting both her stature and the deep affection in which she was held by many Thais.
Queen Sirikit had been hospitalized since October 17, 2025, suffering from a blood infection. Despite the efforts of her medical team, her condition did not improve. In recent years, she had largely stepped back from public life due to declining health, including a stroke in 2012. Photos released by the palace for her 88th birthday showed her surrounded by family, including King Vajiralongkorn and other royals, during visits at Chulalongkorn Hospital, where she was receiving long-term care.
Born Sirikit Kitiyakara on August 12, 1932, into an aristocratic family in Bangkok, she was a child of privilege and tradition. Both her parents were connected to earlier kings of the Chakri dynasty, and her upbringing reflected the changing tides of Thai society. She attended schools in wartime Bangkok—then under threat from Allied air raids—and later moved to France with her diplomat father, who was serving as ambassador. It was in Paris, at the age of 16, that she met Thailand’s newly crowned king, Bhumibol Adulyadej, a meeting that would shape the rest of her life.
Their friendship blossomed after King Bhumibol suffered a near-fatal car accident; Sirikit moved to Switzerland, where the king was studying, to help care for him. The king wooed her with poetry and even composed a waltz titled, “I Dream of You.” Their romance culminated in marriage in 1950. During the coronation ceremony that same year, both vowed to “reign with righteousness for the benefit and happiness of the Siamese (Thai) people.”
The royal couple went on to have four children: the current King Maha Vajiralongkorn, and princesses Ubolratana, Sirindhorn, and Chulabhorn. In their early married life, the king and queen traveled widely as goodwill ambassadors, forging relationships with world leaders and representing Thailand on the international stage. By the 1970s, however, their focus shifted inward, as they devoted themselves to addressing Thailand’s domestic challenges—rural poverty, opium addiction in hill tribes, and a communist insurgency. Each year, the couple traversed the countryside, sometimes officiating at more than 500 royal, religious, and state ceremonies annually.
Queen Sirikit’s influence extended far beyond ceremonial duties. She was renowned for her tireless work on behalf of Thailand’s rural poor, her efforts to preserve traditional crafts, and her pioneering environmental projects. In 1976, she launched the SUPPORT foundation, which trained thousands of villagers in silk-weaving, jewelry-making, painting, ceramics, and other traditional arts. This initiative not only helped preserve Thailand’s cultural heritage but also provided livelihoods for countless families. As the BBC reported, her SUPPORT foundation became a cornerstone of her legacy.
Her environmental work earned her the nickname “Green Queen.” She established wildlife breeding centers, “open zoos,” and hatcheries to save endangered sea turtles. Her Forest Loves Water and Little House in the Forest projects sought to demonstrate the economic benefits of preserving forest cover and water sources. According to The Independent, these programs were instrumental in raising awareness about conservation and sustainable development in Thailand.
Queen Sirikit’s popularity was particularly strong in rural areas, where she was affectionately called “daughter” by older villagers. She often listened to their problems—ranging from marital disputes to serious illnesses—and, with the help of her staff, took up many of these issues personally. “Misunderstandings arise between people in rural areas and the rich, so-called civilised people in Bangkok. People in rural Thailand say they are neglected, and we try to fill that gap by staying with them in remote areas,” she said in a 1979 interview with the Associated Press.
Her birthday, August 12, is celebrated as Mother’s Day in Thailand, and her portrait is a common sight in homes, offices, and public spaces. Despite being overshadowed by her late husband, King Bhumibol Adulyadej—who died in October 2016—and her son, Sirikit was both beloved and influential in her own right. The New York Times noted that her presence was felt across the country, and her initiatives touched the lives of millions.
Yet, as the monarchy’s role in Thai society came under increasing scrutiny during decades of political turbulence, Queen Sirikit’s own position was not immune to controversy. Stories circulated about her behind-the-scenes influence during periods marked by two military takeovers and several rounds of bloody street protests. Her decision to publicly attend the funeral of a protester killed during clashes with police was seen by many as taking a side in the country’s political schism.
Despite these controversies, Queen Sirikit remained steadfast in her belief in the monarchy’s importance. “There are some in the universities who think the monarchy is obsolete. But I think Thailand needs an understanding monarch,” she told the AP in 1979. “At the call, ‘The king is coming,’ thousands will gather. The mere word king has something magic in it. It is wonderful.”
Her life was not without personal challenges. She experienced declining health in her later years and receded from public view, but the impact of her work continued through the foundations and projects she established. Her husband’s death in 2016 marked a turning point, but her legacy endured, both in the tangible results of her initiatives and the enduring affection of many Thais.
As Thailand prepares for her royal funeral, the country reflects on a life spent in service—one that bridged tradition and modernity, privilege and compassion, controversy and devotion. Queen Sirikit’s passing closes a remarkable chapter in the nation’s history, but her influence will be felt for generations to come.
