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Sirikit

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Not to be confused with SiriKit.
  • Sirikit
  • สิริกิติ์
Queen Mother of Thailand
Sirikit in 1960
Queen consort of Thailand
Tenure28 April 1950 – 13 October 2016
Coronation5 May 1950
Queen regent of Thailand
Regency22 October 1956 – 5 November 1956
MonarchBhumibol Adulyadej
BornMom Rajawongse Sirikit Kitiyakara
(1932-08-12)12 August 1932
Bangkok, Siam
Died24 October 2025(2025-10-24) (aged 93)
Bangkok, Thailand
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1950; died 2016)​
Issue
Detail
House
DynastyChakri
FatherNakkhatra Mangala
MotherBua Snidvongs
ReligionTheravada Buddhism
Signature

Sirikit[a][1] (born Mom Rajawongse Sirikit Kitiyakara;[b] 12 August 1932 – 24 October 2025) was Queen of Thailand from 28 April 1950 to 13 October 2016 as the wife of King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX).

Sirikit met Bhumibol in Paris where her father served as the Thai ambassador to France. They married in 1950, shortly before Bhumibol's coronation. In 1956, she was appointed queen regent during the King's temporary ordination as a Buddhist monk. The royal couple had four children: Ubol Ratana, Vajiralongkorn (Rama X), Sirindhorn, and Chulabhorn. As consort to the monarch who became the world's longest-reigning head of state, she held the distinction of being the world's longest-serving queen consort.

Sirikit suffered a stroke in 2012 and subsequently withdrew from public life. She died on 24 October 2025 at the age of 93.[2][3]

Early life and family

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Sirikit Kitiyakara was born on 12 August 1932, at the home of Lord Vongsanuprabhand, her maternal grandfather. She was the eldest daughter and the third child of Prince Nakkhatra Mangkala Kitiyakara, the son of Prince Kitiyakara Voralaksana, and Mom Luang Bua Snidvongs (1909–1999). Her name, which was given by Queen Rambai Barni, means "the greatness of Kitiyakara".[4]

She had three siblings, two elder brothers and a younger sister:[citation needed]

Sirikit was raised by her maternal grandparents for a year after her birth, since her father was in the United States to work as the Secretary of the Siamese Legation at Washington D.C. Her mother joined her husband three months later. When she was one year old, her parents returned to Thailand. Sirikit lived together with her family in Deves Palace, near the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok.[5]

As a child, Sirikit often visited her paternal grandmother. Once in 1933, she travelled with Princess Absornsaman Devakula following King Prajadhipok's tour in Songkhla.[6]

Life

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Education

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At age four, Sirikit attended the Kindergarten at Rajini School (known in English as the Queen's College), where she studied at the primary level. During that time the Pacific War was being fought. Bangkok was bombed many times, especially the rail lines, making travel unsafe. She therefore moved to Saint Francis Xavier Convent School, since it was near the palace. She studied at Saint Francis Xavier from her second primary year through the early secondary level.[7][8]

In 1946, with the war now over, her father moved to the United Kingdom as the ambassador to the Court of St James's, taking his family with him. Sirikit was then 13 and completed her secondary education. While in England she learned to play the piano and became fluent in English and French. Because of her father's work as a diplomat, the family moved to other countries, including Denmark and France. While in France, she studied at a music academy in Paris.[citation needed]

Also in France, Sirikit met Bhumibol Adulyadej, who was related to her, since both were descendants of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V). At that time, Bhumibol had ascended to the throne and was studying in Switzerland. Bhumibol and Sirikit (as well as a few other students) were staying at the Royal Thai Embassy in Paris. Sirikit accompanied the king as he visited various tourist attractions, and they found that they had much in common.[citation needed]

Marriage

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Marriage of Sirikit and Bhumibol

On 4 October 1948, while Bhumibol was driving a Fiat Topolino on the Geneva–Lausanne highway, he collided with the rear of a braking truck 10 km outside of Lausanne. He injured his back and incurred cuts on his face that cost him most of the sight in one eye.[9] He subsequently wore an ocular prosthetic. While he was hospitalised in Lausanne, Sirikit visited him frequently. She met his mother, The Princess Mother Sangwan, who asked her to continue her studies nearby so that the king could get to know her better. Bhumibol selected a boarding school for her in Lausanne, Riante Rive. A quiet engagement in Lausanne followed on 19 July 1949,[9] and the couple married on 28 April 1950,[10] just a week before his coronation.

The marriage took place at Srapathum Palace. Queen Sri Savarindira, the Queen Grandmother presided over the marriage ceremony. Both the king and Sirikit signed on line 11 of their certificate of marriage. As she was not yet 18, her parents also signed, on line 12 directly under her signature. She later received the Order of the Royal House of Chakri, and became queen. After the coronation ceremony on 5 May 1950, both went back to Switzerland to continue their studies, and returned to Bangkok in 1952.

Regency

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When the king undertook the traditional period as a Buddhist monk in 1956, Queen Sirikit acted as regent.[11]

Queen Sirikit taking an oath of office

She took an oath of office amongst the House of Representatives convened at the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall on 20 September 1956 when she was appointed regent by her husband.

She performed her duties so well that she was officially named the Regent of Thailand and the King gave her the title 'Somdet Phra Nang Chao Sirikit Phra Borommarachininat' on his birthday, 5 December 1956. She became the second Siamese queen regent in Thai history. The first was Queen Saovabha Phongsri of Siam, who served as regent when her husband King Chulalongkorn travelled to Europe, and later became Queen Sri Patcharindra.[citation needed]

Issue

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Sirikit and Bhumibol had four children, thirteen grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.

Name Birth Marriage Their children
Date Spouse
Princess Ubolratana (1951-04-05) 5 April 1951 (age 74) 25 July 1972
Divorced 1998 		Peter Ladd Jensen Ploypailin Jensen
Poom Jensen
Sirikitiya Jensen
Vajiralongkorn (Rama X) (1952-07-28) 28 July 1952 (age 73) 3 January 1977
Divorced 12 August 1991 		Soamsawali Kitiyakara Bajrakitiyabha, Princess Rajasarini Siribajra
February 1994
Divorced 1996 		Yuvadhida Polpraserth Juthavachara Vivacharawongse
Vacharaesorn Vivacharawongse
Chakriwat Vivacharawongse
Vatchrawee Vivacharawongse
Princess Sirivannavari
10 February 2001
Divorced 11 December 2014 		Srirasmi Suwadee Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti
1 May 2019 Suthida Tidjai None
Sirindhorn, Princess Royal (1955-04-02) 2 April 1955 (age 70) None None
Chulabhorn, Princess Srisavangavadhana (1957-07-04) 4 July 1957 (age 68) 7 January 1982
Divorced 1996 		Virayudh Tishyasarin Princess Siribha Chudabhorn
Princess Aditayadorn Kitikhun

Health issues and death

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Main article: Death and funeral of Sirikit
A Thai national flag flying at half-mast on 26 October 2025 at a hospital in Si Samrong

At dawn on 21 July 2012, Sirikit felt unsteady and staggered while exercising at Siriraj Hospital, where her husband resided. After performing magnetic resonance imaging, a team of physicians determined that she had suffered an ischemic stroke.[12] She refrained from further public appearances due to her treatment, including the grand audience granted by her husband on his 85th birthday from the Ananta Samakhom Hall on 5 December 2012.[13]

On 29 November 2016, the palace announced that the queen had been discharged from the hospital and returned to the Chitralada Royal Villa for recovery.[14]

Sirikit died at the King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital at 21:21 ICT (14:21 UTC) on 24 October 2025, at the age of 93. The Thai Royal Household Bureau reported that she had died due to complications from a blood infection after being hospitalized since 17 October. A year-long mourning period for government officials, as well as a 90-day mourning period for the general public, in her memory was declared by her son, King Vajiralongkorn, and Thai prime minister Anutin Charnvirakul.[15][16][17] Flags in Thailand were also ordered to fly at half-mast for 30 days.[15] Her remains were laid in state in the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall of the Grand Palace in a royal coffin similar to that of her husband's beginning on Sunday, 26 October.

Cultural status

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Sirikit's birthday, like King Bhumibol's, is a national holiday, and is also Mother's Day in Thailand. She was particularly revered in the more remote and traditional parts of the country, where the monarchy is regarded as semi-divine.[18][failed verification] Her work in promoting tolerance and understanding for the Muslim minorities in the southernmost provinces of Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat made her especially popular amongst Thai Muslims.[citation needed] The queen had a strong bond with southern Thailand, and she formerly spent months in the Muslim-majority provinces every year.[19]

Books and writing

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Queen Sirikit published In Memory of my European Trip in 1964, which described her time in Europe with the king. She also composed songs for performance by The Handsome Band, the band of the palace.

The songs she composed were:

  • Chao Chom Khwan (เจ้าจอมขวัญ)
  • That Thoe (ทาสเธอ)
  • Sai Yut (สายหยุด)
  • Nang Yaem (นางแย้ม)

Honours and awards

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Styles of
  • Queen Sirikit
  • The Queen Mother
Reference styleHer Majesty
Spoken styleYour Majesty
Royal monogram of Queen Sirikit
Royal standard of Queen Sirikit, with her cypher on a light blue background (the color of the day of her birthday), often flown in August (near her birthday and Mothers' Day).

In 1976, the Thai government honoured the queen by declaring her birthday on 12 August a national holiday.[20]

Volunteer Defence Corps of Thailand Rank

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  • Volunteer Defence Corps General[21]

Foreign honours

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Eponyms

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Queen Sirikit was well known for her charitable work.[28] She was the honorary president of the Thai Red Cross Society, a post she had held since 1956. She gained new prominence in this role in the aftermath of the tsunami disaster in southern Thailand in December 2004. She was also active in relief work for the many refugees from Cambodia and Myanmar in Thailand.

Many things in Thailand have been named after the Queen:

The queen was also active in promoting Thai culture and history, mainly through her initiative in the making of the Thai movie The Legend of Suriyothai, one of the most lavish and expensive Thai movies ever made.[30]

Genealogical table

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Relationship with Bhumibol Adulyadej and Sirikit[31]
Savang VadhanaChulalongkorn
(Rama V)		Uam Bisalayabutra
Apsarasaman DevakulaKitiyakara Voralaksana
SrinagarindraMahidol AdulyadejBua KitiyakaraNakkhatra Mangala
Bhumibol Adulyadej
(Rama IX)		Sirikit

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Thai: สิริกิติ์, pronounced [sì.rì.kìt] listenⓘ.
  2. ^ Thai: สิริกิติ์ กิติยากร; RTGS: Sirikit Kitiyakon.

References

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  1. ^ "Rare royal photos of Queen Sirikit released for 90th birthday". Nation Thailand. 13 August 2022. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  2. ^ HM Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother, passes away at 93
  3. ^ Royal Household announces the passing of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother
  4. ^ "สมเด็จพระนางเจ้าสิริกิติ์ พระบรมราชินีนาถ พระราชินีและ "แม่" ของไทย – ศิลปวัฒนธรรม". Archived from the original on 29 August 2018. Retrieved 29 August 2018.[not specific enough to verify]
  5. ^ "พระราชประวัติการศึกษา สมเด็จพระนางเจ้าสิริกิติ์ฯ | รอยยิ้มของในหลวง ร.9". 18 October 2017. Archived from the original on 29 August 2018. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
  6. ^ "สมเด็จพระนางเจ้าสิริกิติ์ฯ – แขกเลี้ยงวัวทำนาย เด็กผู้หญิงคนนี้มีบุญวาสนาเป็นราชินี". 11 August 2018. Archived from the original on 29 August 2018. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
  7. ^ "พระราชประวัติการศึกษา สมเด็จพระนางเจ้าสิริกิติ์ฯ | รอยยิ้มของในหลวง ร.9". Archived from the original on 29 August 2018. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
  8. ^ "สมาคมศิษย์เซนต์ฟรังฯ จัดพิธีบูชาขอบพระคุณ ถวายพระพรแด่ สมเด็จพระบรมราชชนนีพันปีหลวง". Archived from the original on 14 January 2022. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  9. ^ a b Handley, Paul M. (2006). The King Never Smiles: A Biography of Thailand's Bhumibol Adulyadej, pp. 103–4. Yale University Press.
  10. ^ Commire, Anne (2002), Women in World History: A Biographical Encyclopedia, Yorkin Publications, p. 381, ISBN 978-0-7876-4073-6
  11. ^ Handley (2006), p. 131-32.
  12. ^ "Statement of the Bureau of the Royal Household, Re: Her Majesty the Queen falls ill at Siriraj Hospital, dated 21 July 2012" (PDF) (in Thai). Bureau of the Royal Household. 21 July 2012. Archived (PDF) from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 5 December 2012.
  13. ^ "Statement of the Bureau of the Royal Household, Re: Her Majesty the Queen falls ill at Siriraj Hospital, No. 12, dated 4 December 2012" (PDF) (in Thai). Bureau of the Royal Household. 4 December 2012. Retrieved 5 December 2012.[permanent dead link]
  14. ^ "แถลงการณ์สำนักพระราชวัง "พระราชินี" พระอาการทั่วไปดีขึ้นมาก เสด็จกลับประทับพระตำหนักจิตรลดาฯ". Matichon (in Thai). Bangkok. 29 November 2016. Archived from the original on 30 November 2016. Retrieved 29 November 2016.
  15. ^ a b "PM announces year-long mourning for government officials, 90 days for the public, following Queen Sirikit's passing". The Nation. 24 October 2025. Retrieved 26 October 2025.
  16. ^ "Thailand mourns as beloved Queen Mother Sirikit dies at 93". Al Jazeera. 25 October 2025. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  17. ^ Mydans, Seth (24 October 2025). "Sirikit, Glamorous Former Queen of Thailand Who Wielded Power, Dies at 93". The New York Times. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  18. ^ "A Look at Prominent Members of Thailand's Royal Family". Voice of America. 14 October 2016. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  19. ^ Morris, Kylie (16 November 2004), "Thai Queen's plea to end violence", News, UK: BBC, retrieved 7 July 2008.
  20. ^ Forbes, Andrew (2010). DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Thailand's Beaches & Islands, p. 35. Dorling Kindersley Limited.
  21. ^ "PDF" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 June 2018.
  22. ^ "Reply to a parliamentary question" (PDF) (in German). p. 171. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 May 2020. Retrieved 12 October 2012.
  23. ^ "S.M. Sirikit Regina di Tailandia, Cavaliere di Gran Croce Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana" (in Italian). Archived from the original on 28 September 2013. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
  24. ^ "Boletín Oficial del Estado" (PDF). boe.es. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 March 2020. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
  25. ^ "Boletín Oficial del Estado" (PDF). boe.es. Archived (PDF) from the original on 31 August 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
  26. ^ "Two Ancient Lands Strengthen Their Ties". Taiwan Today. 1 July 1963. Archived from the original on 19 December 2021. Retrieved 13 April 2020. President Chiang decorated King Bhumibol with the Special Grand Cordon of the Order of Brilliant Jade and Queen Sirikit with the Special Grand Cordon of the Order of Propitious Clouds.
  27. ^ Royal Friends from Thailand
  28. ^ "Thailand's Queen Mother Sirikit, influential style icon, dies at 93". The Japan Times. 25 October 2025. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  29. ^ Ridout, Lucy (2009). The Rough Guide to Thailand, p. 357. Penguin.
  30. ^ "Thailand's Suriyothai beats Titanic", News, UK: BBC, 23 November 2001, retrieved 7 July 2008.
  31. ^ Finestone, Jeffrey (1989). The Royal Family of Thailand: The Descendants of King Chulalongkorn. New Cavendish Books. ISBN 978-09-04568-88-2.
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sirikit.
English Wikisource has original text related to this article:
Sirikit
House of Kitiyakara
Cadet branch of the House of Chakri
Born: 12 August 1932 Died: 24 October 2025
Thai royalty
Vacant
Title last held by
Rambai Barni 		Queen consort of Thailand
1950–2016 		Vacant
Title next held by
Suthida Tidjai
Preceded by Eldest Royal Member of the Chakri Dynasty
2016–2025 		Succeeded by
Non-profit organization positions
Vacant
Title last held by
Savang Vadhana 		President of Thai Red Cross Society
1956–2025 		Vacant
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