Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother of Thailand and mother of current King Maha Vajiralongkorn, passed away peacefully at the age of 93. She was the widow of Thailand’s longest-reigning monarch, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, and had been largely out of the public eye following a stroke in 2012.
Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother of Thailand and mother of King Vajiralongkorn, died on October 24, 2025, at 9:21 p.m. She was 93.
The Queen had been hospitalized at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital in Bangkok since 2019 with multiple illnesses. She developed sepsis on October 17, leading to her condition worsening critically.
What happened next
The Bureau of the Royal Household announced her death the following day. A one-year mourning period has been declared for royal family members and servants.
Her body was transferred in a grand procession to Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall at the Grand Palace on October 26 for lying in state, with royal funeral ceremonies beginning that day. Government offices flew flags at half-mast for one month, and officials and entertainment venues observed mourning periods.
Reactions
Thousands of mourners gathered at the hospital and along procession routes. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul canceled trips to ASEAN and APEC summits initially, later attending a Malaysia trip for a Thailand-Cambodia ceasefire amid national somberness.
Global media highlighted her legacy as a style icon and consort to King Bhumibol, who died in 2016. Her vision led to the founding of the SUPPORT Foundation in support of Thai craftsmanship.
I am always proud that every Thai has the blood of a craftsman. All they need is an opportunity to learn and they will showcase their skills.
Queen Sirikit’s vision led to the founding of the SUPPORT Foundation in support of Thai craftsmanship
Asia’s “Jackie Kennedy”
Sirikit, born into aristocracy, married King Bhumibol in 1950, promoting Thai silk, rural development, and cultural projects during their glamorous reign. She was often called Asia’s Jackie Kennedy for her style.
She withdrew from public life after a 2012 stroke but remained revered, though recent protests focused less on her amid monarchy reforms. Thailand’s mourning underscores Sirikit’s enduring influence despite evolving views on the monarchy.
Why it matters
Queen Sirikit’s death marks the end of an era for Thailand’s monarchy, closing the chapter on the glamorous reign that began with her marriage to King Bhumibol in 1950. Her promotion of Thai craftsmanship, rural development, and cultural projects left a lasting legacy, while her style and public presence earned her comparisons to Jackie Kennedy.
Despite withdrawing from public life after her 2012 stroke, she remained a revered figure, and the national mourning reflects her enduring influence even as Thailand grapples with evolving views on the monarchy and calls for reform.
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