A Life of Service: Remembering Thailand's Queen Mother
Queen Mother Sirikit passes away at 93
Thailand is in mourning following the passing of Queen Mother Sirikit at the age of 93. Deeply respected for her dedication and quiet strength, she had been hospitalized since mid-October due to a serious infection.
A Grand Funeral and National Mourning
King Maha Vajiralongkorn has ordered a grand funeral to honor her memory. The royal family and servants will observe a year of mourning. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has declared a 30-day national mourning period, with flags flying at half-staff and civil servants observing a year of mourning.
A Beloved and Influential Figure
Queen Sirikit was more than a royal figure; she was a beloved and influential woman. Her portrait adorned homes, offices, and public spaces across Thailand. Her birthday, August 12, was celebrated as Mother's Day.
Charitable Work and Conservation Efforts
Known for her charitable work, Queen Sirikit helped Cambodian refugees and worked to save Thailand's forests. She also made significant contributions to wildlife conservation, setting up breeding centers and hatcheries to save endangered species.
A Life of Service
Born into a wealthy, aristocratic family in Bangkok in 1932, Queen Sirikit met the future king, Bhumibol Adulyadej, in Paris at the age of 16. They married in 1950 and vowed to serve the Thai people. Together, they addressed issues like rural poverty, opium addiction, and communist insurgency.
Hands-On Approach and Political Influence
Queen Sirikit was known for her hands-on approach to helping people, addressing thousands of problems personally. While some criticized her involvement in palace intrigues and her lavish lifestyle, her popularity in the countryside remained strong.
A Legacy of Unity
She once said that misunderstandings between rural and urban people were a gap she tried to fill. In a 1979 interview, she expressed her belief that Thailand needed an understanding monarch, someone who could bring people together.
