Former Queen of Thailand Sirikit, mother of the current King Vajiralongkorn, passed away on Friday evening at the age of 93, the royal palace administration reported, according to LETA citing AFP.
Sirikit, who was married to King Bhumibol Adulyadej for 66 years, earned a reputation as a caring mother and style icon. Some Western media featured her on magazine covers and compared her to former First Lady of the United States Jackie Kennedy.
"Her Majesty's health had been deteriorating until Friday, and at 21:21 she passed away at Chulalongkorn Hospital at the age of 93," the royal palace stated.
Sirikit had been in the hospital since 2019 and suffered from a number of illnesses, including a blood infection that she contracted this month.
King Vajiralongkorn ordered royal family members to begin a year-long mourning period.
Anchors of news programs on Thai television have been dressed in black since Saturday morning — a sign of public mourning.
Sirikit's husband, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, ruled from 1946 to 2016.
The peak of the queen's popularity came in the 1960s when she met with U.S. presidents and superstars like Elvis Presley. Sirikit was referred to as the "Mother of the Nation," and her birthday was celebrated as Mother's Day.
In recent years, she stepped back from public life due to declining health. Her personal life was protected by strict laws limiting the publicity of news about the royal family.
Leave a comment