Thailand’s Queen Mother Sirikit, aged 93, passed away on Friday in a Bangkok hospital after battling a blood infection. Widely regarded as a compassionate and influential figure, she dedicated much of her life to uplifting rural communities, preserving traditional crafts, and promoting environmental conservation, earning her the nickname “The Green Queen.” Her death marks the end of an era for a monarch who, while often overshadowed by her husband, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, and her son, King Maha Vajiralongkorn, held immense public affection and symbolic influence across Thailand. Her portrait adorned homes, offices, and temples, and her birthday on August 12 was celebrated as Mother’s Day nationwide.
Born Sirikit Kitiyakara in Bangkok on August 12, 1932, she came from an aristocratic family connected to the Chakri dynasty. She was educated in Bangkok during World War II and later moved to France with her diplomat father. At 16, while studying music and languages in Paris, she met King Bhumibol, who was recovering from a car accident. She later moved to Switzerland to care for him, and they married in 1950, shortly before his coronation. The couple had four children: King Maha Vajiralongkorn, Princess Ubolratana, Princess Sirindhorn, and Princess Chulabhorn.
Queen Sirikit’s legacy was broad and deeply impactful. She worked to improve rural livelihoods, launched income-generation projects for women, aided Cambodian refugees, and actively campaigned to protect Thailand’s forests. Her SUPPORT Foundation, established in 1976, trained villagers in silk weaving, jewelry making, ceramics, and other traditional crafts, combining economic empowerment with cultural preservation. She also accompanied the king on thousands of village visits, often traveling through jungles and mountains, listening to personal struggles, and intervening where she could.
While her humanitarian and environmental work earned her widespread admiration, her role was not without controversy. Thailand’s monarchy has faced increasing public scrutiny, and her appearances during politically sensitive events, such as the funeral of a protester killed in clashes with police, drew mixed reactions. Nonetheless, her decades-long commitment to Thailand’s social and environmental welfare solidified her place as a beloved, if politically complex, figure in the country’s history.
Queen Sirikit’s death not only closes a chapter in Thailand’s royal history but also leaves a lasting legacy in social development, cultural preservation, and environmental stewardship, reflecting her lifelong dedication to the Thai people.
