Queen Mother Sirikit of Thailand has passed away at the age of 93. This marks the end of an era in the modern monarchy. Sirikit was married for more than 70 years to King Bhumibol Adulyadej and spent 40 years as the Queen Mother for King Maha Vajiralongkorn.
Queen Mother Sirikit passes away on her birthday
Her death was announced on October 24; she died on her 94th birthday. In 2012, Queen Mother Sirikit suffered a stroke and spent the rest of her time mostly out of the public eye. However, her presence was still strongly felt by the Thai people.
At the time of her passing, she was known as a prominent cultural figure and a symbol of peace and political influence for the Thai people. Her passing comes nearly a decade after the passing of her husband, King Bhumibol, in 2016, a time that once signified stability and unity to the people of Thailand.
During the King’s reign, the longest in Thai history. Sirikit was a reliable partner, often functioning as regent in his absence.
Her responsibilities were not only ceremonial, as she was a guardian of the nation’s rural populace, and devoted much of her time to completing rural development projects. She supported her nation’s rural populace, and she served to represent the nation as a symbol of maternal affection.
This is a new era for the Thai people
In the 1970s, she began to advocate for the Thai craftsmen and women, and established the SUPPORT Foundation in the 1980s to advocate for the preservation of Thai craft.
Rural women were able to gain economic benefits from the crafts, and the nation was able to gain cultural capital. Her efforts on textiles and crafts elevated he cultural heritage of Thailand globally.
In Sirikit’s later years, she was a controversial figure, though she was still the most popular. As the Thai people were upright and politically active, they did not enjoy her friendships and loyalty with the oppressive arms of the Thai military and the conservatives of the country. Even so, she was dearly regarded in her friendships and loyalty with the royalists and the generation of Thai people.
Tributes for the late monarch
In 2012, after a stroke, Sirikit did not make any public appearances, which affected the royal family’s public image. Tributes have been received from Thailand, as well as from the external countries that received the news.
Srettha Thavisin, the Thai Prime Minister, said that Sirikit’s dedication to the West was “unbridled and crowned.” The royal family’s mourning was expected to be organized by King Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida:
“Her Majesty Queen Sirikit was a symbol of grace and resilience. Her passing marks the end of an era that shaped Thailand’s modern identity. We extend our deepest condolences to the royal family and the people of Thailand.”
Messages of condolences were received from Japan and Thailand, and other neighbouring countries, and were politically aimed towards Sirikit’s diplomacy and her exchange with the Thai Gulf and the West.
She was a “compelling communicator of the uniqueness of Thai culture and a true cultural bridge between the two nations.” The changes she influenced significantly shaped the monarchy’s role to better meet the diverse needs of society.
Her image may stand in cruel contrast with the inadequacy of some Thais against the qualities she exuded and performed dutifully for the nation. With the loss of Sirikit, the partnership with her royal husband, Bhumibol, also rests, coupled with all the changes they made to the country. For the new generation, people will remember Queen Mother Sirikit for the countless changes she made in her lifetime.