Thailand’s Queen Mother Sirikit, known for her elegance and influence on the country’s monarchy, has passed away at the age of 93, as announced by the Thai Royal Household bureau on Saturday. Since suffering a stroke in 2012, Sirikit had maintained a low profile.
Born in 1932 during Thailand’s transition to a constitutional monarchy, Sirikit Kitiyakara, daughter of the Thai ambassador to France, enjoyed a privileged upbringing. She met her future husband, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, while studying in Paris, eventually marrying him in Thailand in 1950.
Sirikit, renowned for her fashion sense, collaborated with designer Pierre Balmain to promote Thai silk outfits, contributing to the revival of Thailand’s silk industry. Over the years, she and the king engaged in charitable activities, focusing on rural development projects and traditional weaving practices.
Following her husband’s passing in 2016 and her son’s ascension to the throne as King Maha Vajiralongkorn, Sirikit held the title of Queen Mother. Despite the monarchy’s apolitical stance, Sirikit occasionally made politically significant statements, including endorsing prime ministers and aligning with royalist movements.
Remembered for her philanthropy and maternal image, Sirikit’s legacy will be honored in Thailand, where strict laws against insulting the royal family are enforced. She is survived by her son, the reigning king, and three daughters.