Thailand's former queen, Sirikit, has passed away at the age of 93. The Thai Royal Household Bureau announced that she had died peacefully in a Bangkok hospital on Friday evening, bringing an end to a remarkable six-decade reign.
The late monarch, who was married to King Bhumibol Adulyadej for over 60 years until his passing in 2016, was seen as the epitome of elegance and sophistication during her heyday. The couple's globe-trotting adventures took them to some of the world's most iconic destinations, including Paris, where she met her future husband.
The relationship between the Thai monarchy and its people has been a cornerstone of Sirikit's legacy, with strict lese-majeste laws often casting a shadow over private lives. Nevertheless, she remained an influential maternal figure for the nation, with her birthday marked as Mother's Day since 1976.
Tragedy struck in 2012 when Sirikit suffered a stroke, forcing her to retreat from public view. Despite this setback, she continued to serve as a symbol of Thai culture and tradition until her passing.
Sirikit is survived by her son, King Vajiralongkorn, who has now ordered the Thai Royal Household Bureau to organise a royal funeral in her honour. Her body will lie in state at the Grand Palace's Dusit Thorne Hall in Bangkok, while the country observes a year of mourning for its beloved former queen.
The late monarch, who was married to King Bhumibol Adulyadej for over 60 years until his passing in 2016, was seen as the epitome of elegance and sophistication during her heyday. The couple's globe-trotting adventures took them to some of the world's most iconic destinations, including Paris, where she met her future husband.
The relationship between the Thai monarchy and its people has been a cornerstone of Sirikit's legacy, with strict lese-majeste laws often casting a shadow over private lives. Nevertheless, she remained an influential maternal figure for the nation, with her birthday marked as Mother's Day since 1976.
Tragedy struck in 2012 when Sirikit suffered a stroke, forcing her to retreat from public view. Despite this setback, she continued to serve as a symbol of Thai culture and tradition until her passing.
Sirikit is survived by her son, King Vajiralongkorn, who has now ordered the Thai Royal Household Bureau to organise a royal funeral in her honour. Her body will lie in state at the Grand Palace's Dusit Thorne Hall in Bangkok, while the country observes a year of mourning for its beloved former queen.
she lived an incredible life 
i always thought queen sirikit was so elegant and sophisticated back in the day 
her relationship with king bumibol must've been super strong all those years together 
but also gotta feel bad about the lese-majeste laws kinda suffocating her private life 
anyway, she's an iconic figure now & will always be remembered as a symbol of thai culture 
Sirikit was like a legend in my eyes, so elegant and sophisticated 
I mean, who wouldn't love a queen who had that kind of global style? And she's been an icon for Thai culture for decades, even if it's not always easy to see behind the formal facade. It's interesting how much her legacy is tied up with Mother's Day - I never knew that before! Anyway, RIP Sirikit 
I'm sad that she had to live with those strict laws and have her life scrutinized all the time, but at the same time, it's awesome how she continued to be an inspiration for so many people, especially as the "Mother of the Nation" 
. The branches stretch out, showing all the different places she traveled to 
. Her roots go deep, representing her strong connection to Thai culture 
. She's still a part of us, even though she's gone 
. The fact that she was seen as a maternal figure and celebrated with a national holiday is amazing 
. I'm going to draw a little doodle of a royal crown made out of flowers 
. First it was King Bhumibol and now Queen Sirikit... what's next? Anyway, 93 is no joke, you know? She had a good run 
. I guess what I'm saying is, let's not forget about the everyday people who aren't royal relatives or stuff 
. Can never forget that 1976 declaration making her birthday 'Mother's Day' - real class move! Now, let's pay our respects during this year of mourning 
And can we talk about her globetrotting adventures? 
I mean, it's cool that King Bhumibol Adulyadej was her partner in crime for so long 
But also, I feel like the monarchy can be a bit secretive sometimes 
Like, when you have strict lese-majeste laws and all that jazz 
It's nice to see her legacy being celebrated with Mother's Day 
though. I'm sad she had a stroke in 2012 
