News|ObituariesThailand mourns as beloved Queen Mother Sirikit dies at 93Former Queen Sirikit, mother of Thailand’s current King Maha Vajiralongkorn, passed away on Friday night, the palace said.
## Obituary: Former Queen Sirikit of Thailand
Obituary: Former Queen Sirikit of Thailand
On Fri, Oct 6, 2025, Thailand announced the passing of former Queen Sirikit at the age of 93. The Royal Palace confirmed that her condition had deteriorated, and she passed away at 9:21 pm at Chulalongkorn Hospital. Queen Sirikit was the mother of the current Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn and the wife of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who reigned for seven decades until his death in 2016.
The government has declared a period of mourning. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has postponed his trip to Malaysia for the ASEAN leaders' summit, instead holding a cabinet meeting to discuss funeral arrangements. The meeting was described as somber, with officials dressed in black. The Prime Minister plans to travel to Malaysia on Sun, Oct 8, 2025.
King Vajiralongkorn has decreed a one-year official mourning period for royal family members and servants. Former Queen Sirikit's remains will be enshrined in Bangkok's Grand Palace.
On Fri, Oct 6, 2025, Thailand announced the passing of former Queen Sirikit at the age of 93.
Born in 1932 in Bangkok, Sirikit came from an aristocratic family. She met King Bhumibol in Paris in 1948 and married him two years later. The couple had four children: King Vajiralongkorn, and princesses Ubolratana, Sirindhorn, and Chulabhorn.
During her time as queen, Sirikit was recognized internationally for her fashion sense and as a goodwill ambassador alongside King Bhumibol. By the 1970s, the royal couple focused on domestic issues, launching programs to combat deforestation, rural poverty, and opium addiction. These initiatives were regularly broadcast on the Royal Bulletin.
In the later years, Sirikit faced health challenges, including a stroke in 2012, and spent her final years receiving long-term care at Chulalongkorn Hospital.
Based on reporting by Al Jazeera.
