Thailand, reserved in their grief, loses a beloved Queen, Sirikit. She died at 93 years old. Queen Sirikit has long been celebrated for her steadfast dedication to social causes. Her profound political influence on the Thai monarchy clearly reflects a lifetime dedicated to serving her country and its people. Her death represents the end of an era for Thailand. As both a queen and the mother of her nation, she was deeply loved.
Born into Thai nobility, Sirikit was born and grown up in a royal family, and lived to see the devastation of wartime Bangkok. She was primarily educated through the upheaval of World War II. Allied air raids often bombed her city, contributing to the chaos surrounding her. After the war, her father as a diplomat moved the family to France. There, she flourished academically and found her love for music and languages. In Paris, she met His Majesty, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, of Thailand at the age of just 16. This experience led to a collaborative initiative that would last for 30 years, weathering the whirlwind of development transforming Thailand.
After marrying King Bhumibol in 1950, Queen Sirikit dedicated herself to various royal projects aimed at improving the lives of Thais. The couple had four children: the reigning King Maha Vajiralongkorn and princesses Ubolratana, Sirindhorn, and Chulabhorn. Together, they weathered the storms of royal existence and overcame personal challenges, all while prioritizing those they ruled over.
A Legacy of Service
Impact Queen Sirikit’s contributions to Thai society—both historically and currently—are immeasurable. In 1976, she founded the SUPPORT foundation. It empowered thousands of these villagers by training them in age-old customs, such as silk-weaving, gem stone-carving, painting and a bit more. This initiative not only preserved Thailand’s rich cultural heritage but empowered local communities by providing them with skills to generate income.
Over the course of her life, she directed hundreds of royal projects focused on poverty alleviation and the conservation of traditional craft-making. Her efforts extended beyond economic empowerment. She promoted environmental conservation and provided assistance to marginalized groups, including Cambodian refugees. Her commitment to these causes and many others earned her enormous respect and admiration from the Thai people, both from inside and outside Thailand.
“People in rural Thailand say they are neglected and we try to fill that gap by staying with them in remote areas.” – Queen Sirikit
Queen Sirikit’s humanitarian work struck a profound chord with everyday Thais. Her birthday on August 12 was celebrated as Mother’s Day, which was symbolic of her role as a matriarch of the kingdom. Portraits of the queen beautified homes, offices, schools, and public spaces, reflecting her prominence within Thai culture.
Health Struggles and Absence from Public Life
In recent years, Queen Sirikit was having underwent major health issues. She’d had a stroke in 2012 and had been mostly missing from public life since that time. Her situation took a major turn for the worst in October 2022 when she came down with a bad blood infection. Even in her own declining health, she persevered and remained an ironclad figurehead of the monarchy. She argued it was an important pillar within Thai society.
Although her physical absence from public functions may have obscured her influence, it did not eclipse her presence in the hearts of her people. Millions more had her legacy to celebrate and thank her for a lifetime of service to their country.
“The mere word king has something magic in it. It is wonderful.” – Queen Sirikit
A Belief in Monarchy
Queen Sirikit was reportedly unwavering in her convictions about the monarchy and its integral role in Thailand’s social fabric. She frequently discussed the importance of a compassionate and enlightened monarch capable of uniting London’s diverse social classes.
There are many others at the universities who believe the monarchy is anachronistic and irrelevant. But I believe Thailand deserves such an understanding monarch,” she said. She sought to reaffirm her commitment to keeping the monarchy relevant in societies today. Her perspective was rooted in her long-held belief that every effort should be made to encourage peace between different classes, ethnicities, religions, and cultural groups.
“At the call, ‘The king is coming,’ thousands will gather.” – Queen Sirikit
Her view of the monarchy’s purpose was as far reaching as bridging social divides between country folk and city folk. She was sympathetic to the unique challenges of people who live in our most rural communities and fought vehemently on their behalf.
