PM Anutin Cancels ASEAN Trip to Oversee Royal Funeral Arrangements
Bangkok: Thailand is mourning the loss of Queen Mother Sirikit, the beloved widow of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej and mother of the reigning monarch King Maha Vajiralongkorn, who passed away on Friday night at the age of 93.
The Royal Household Bureau confirmed that Queen Sirikit “passed away peacefully” at 9:21 p.m. local time (14:21 GMT) at Chulalongkorn Hospital, after battling multiple illnesses, including a recent blood infection.
Her death marks the end of an era in Thailand’s modern monarchy — closing a chapter that symbolized compassion, elegance, and unity during her husband’s seven-decade reign.
National Mourning Declared
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has cancelled his trip to the ASEAN Summit in Malaysia to participate in royal funeral arrangements.
The Thai cabinet convened on Saturday to coordinate official ceremonies. According to the Royal Household, Queen Sirikit’s body will lie in state at Dusit Thorne Hall in Bangkok’s Grand Palace, where members of the royal family and the public will be allowed to pay their respects.
King Vajiralongkorn has proclaimed a one-year mourning period for the royal family and palace staff, underscoring the nation’s profound respect for the Queen Mother.
A Life of Grace and Service
Born Sirikit Kitiyakara in 1932, she met her future husband, King Bhumibol, while studying in Paris, where her father served as Thailand’s ambassador. The couple married in April 1950, just a week before the King’s coronation.
Together, they became the most admired royal couple in Thai history — a symbol of national unity, modernity, and benevolent leadership. During their reign, they represented Thailand globally, meeting figures such as U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower, Queen Elizabeth II, and even Elvis Presley in the 1960s.
Famed for her elegance and poise, Sirikit was often listed among the world’s best-dressed women and became a fashion icon in Asia. But beyond glamour, she dedicated herself to public service and rural development, focusing on handicrafts, women’s empowerment, and social welfare.
“Mother of the Nation”
Since 1976, Queen Sirikit’s birthday — August 12 — has been celebrated as Mother’s Day in Thailand, a tribute to her nurturing image and lifelong devotion to the Thai people.
In a 1980 BBC interview, she once said:
“Kings and queens of Thailand have always been in close contact with the people… we are considered the father and mother of the nation.”
Her tireless humanitarian work and compassion earned her the affectionate title of “Mae Luang” (Great Mother) among the Thai public.
Health Struggles and Final Years
Queen Sirikit suffered a stroke in 2012, which limited her public appearances. She was hospitalized again in 2019 and received long-term care at Chulalongkorn Hospital.
Despite her declining health, her influence endured — her portraits remain displayed in homes, schools, and offices across Thailand, reflecting her lasting emotional bond with the people.
Her passing marks the end of Thailand’s post-war royal era, defined by stability under King Bhumibol and maternal grace under Queen Sirikit. Even amid the nation’s political upheavals and generational shifts, reverence for the late royal couple has remained steadfast.
PM Shehbaz Sharif Expresses Condolences
In Islamabad, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif extended heartfelt condolences on behalf of the government and people of Pakistan to the Royal Family of Thailand and the Thai nation.
“The best wishes of the Pakistani government and people are with the Thai people in this hour of sorrow,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement.
Sharif paid tribute to Queen Mother Sirikit’s lifelong dedication to public service, calling her “a symbol of grace, compassion, and unity.”
