Thailand is mourning the death of Queen Mother Sirikit, a royal icon whose grace, philanthropy and influence helped shape the country’s modern monarchy. She died at the age of 93, Thailand’s Royal Household Authority confirmed on Saturday. Sirikit has been largely absent from public life since suffering a stroke in 2012.
Who was Queen Mother Sirikit?
Sirikit Kitiyakara was born in 1932, the year Thailand transitioned from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy, and was the daughter of the Thai ambassador to France. She grew up in wealth and privilege, studying music and languages in Paris. It was there that she met her future husband, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who spent part of his childhood in Switzerland.
“It was hate at first sight,” she recalled in the BBC documentary, noting that he arrived late for their first meeting. “Then it was love. The couple became engaged in 1949 and married a year later when Sirikit was just 17 years old.
As Thailand’s queen consort, she stood by Bhumibol’s side during his 70-year reign and won the nation’s affection for her charity work and high-profile appearances at home and abroad.
What charmed the world with Thai Sirikit?
Sirikit was known for her elegance and fashion sense. During a visit to the United States in 1960, including a state dinner at the White House, Time magazine described her as “slim” and an “archfeminist”, while the French daily L’Aurore called her “stunning”. She collaborated with French designer Pierre Balmain on outfits made from Thai silk, helping to revive the domestic silk industry and preserve traditional weaving techniques.
Her travels often combined charm and purpose: for more than four decades, she accompanied kings to remote villages and supported development projects for the rural poor. These visits were broadcast nightly in Thailand’s Royal Bulletin, reinforcing her image as a compassionate figure.
What role did Sirikit play in Thai politics?
Although the Thai monarchy is officially above politics, Sirikit has occasionally exercised influence. In 1956, she briefly served as regent while the king spent two weeks at the temple studying to become a Buddhist monk.
In 1998, she used her birthday speech to call on Thais to support Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai, undermining the opposition’s bid to hold a no-confidence vote. It later allied itself with the monarchist People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD), whose protests contributed to the fall of governments associated with former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. In 2008, she attended the funeral of a PAD protester killed in clashes with the police, signaling royal support for the movement.
What is Sirikit’s legacy?
Sirikit’s lasting legacy lies in her charity work and her status as a symbol of maternal virtue. Her birthday, August 12, became Thailand’s official Mother’s Day in 1976. She is remembered for promoting Thai culture, particularly traditional silk weaving, and for her dedication to the country’s rural communities.
She was briefly regent, a world style icon, and a royal figure who navigated both the ceremonial and political landscapes with care and influence. When he departs, he leaves behind his son, King Maha Vajiralongkorn, known as Rama X, and three daughters.
What was Sirikit’s net worth?
While the Thai monarchy does not disclose personal wealth, Sirikit lived a life of considerable privilege, with extensive real estate, royal estates and access to state resources.
Estimates of the Thai royal family’s collective wealth are in the billions and reflect centuries of accumulated wealth, although exact figures for Sirikit herself remain undisclosed.
It is worth noting that Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn, with an estimated fortune of $30-43 billion derived from the Crown Property Bureau, is the richest king in the world.
How will Thailand’s Queen Mother be remembered?
For many Thais, Queen Mother Sirikit will be remembered as a symbol of grace, compassion and national pride. Her death will be marked with respect in the country, where strict laws to protect the majesty make it a criminal offense to criticize the monarchy, past or present.
From a young princess in Paris to a queen who shaped the modern Thai monarchy, Sirikit’s life spanned decades of social, cultural and political change and left a legacy that continues to influence the nation.
