| |
|---|---|
| Queen Mother of Thailand | |
 Queen Sirikit in 1960 | |
| Queen consort of Thailand | |
| Tenure | 28 April 1950 – 13 October 2016 |
| Coronation | 5 May 1950 |
| Queen regent of Thailand | |
| Regency | 22 October 1956 – 5 November 1956 |
| Monarch | Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX) |
| Born | Sirikit Kitiyakara (1932-08-12)12 August 1932 Bangkok,Siam |
| Died | 24 October 2025(2025-10-24) (aged 93) Bangkok, Thailand |
| Spouse | |
| Issue Detail |
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| House |
|
| Dynasty | Chakri |
| Father | Nakkhatra Mangala |
| Mother | Bua Snidvongs |
| Religion | Theravada Buddhism |
| Signature |  |
Sirikit[a][1] (bornMom Rajawongse Sirikit Kitiyakara;[b] 12 August 1932 – 24 October 2025)[2] wasQueen of Thailand from 28 April 1950 to 13 October 2016 as the wife of KingBhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX).
Sirikit met Bhumibol inParis where her father served as the Thai ambassador to France. They married in 1950, shortly before Bhumibol's coronation. In 1956, she was appointedqueen regent during the King's temporary ordination as aBuddhist monk. The royal couple had four children:Ubol Ratana,Vajiralongkorn (Rama X),Sirindhorn, andChulabhorn. As consort to the monarch who became one of the world's longest-reigning heads of state, she held the distinction of being the world's longest-serving queen consort.
Sirikit suffered astroke in 2012 and subsequently withdrew from public life.She died on 24 October 2025 at the age of 93.[3][4]
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 PrinceNakkhatra Mangkala Kitiyakara, the son of PrinceKitiyakara Voralaksana, andMom LuangBua Snidvongs (1909–1999). Her name, which was given by QueenRambai Barni, means "the greatness of Kitiyakara".[5]
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 theChao Phraya River inBangkok.[6]
As a child, Sirikit often visited her paternal grandmother. Once in 1933, she travelled with Princess Absornsaman Devakula following KingPrajadhipok's tour inSongkhla.[7]
At age four, Sirikit attended the Kindergarten atRajini School (Queen's College in English), where she studied at the primary level. During that time thePacific 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.[8][9]
In 1946, with the war over, her father moved to the United Kingdom as the ambassador to theCourt 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, includingDenmark and France. While in France, she studied at a music academy in Paris.[citation needed]
Also in France, Sirikit metBhumibol Adulyadej, who was related to her, since both were descendants of KingChulalongkorn (Rama V). At that time, Bhumibol had ascended to the throne and was studying inSwitzerland. 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]
On 4 October 1948, while Bhumibol was driving aFiat Topolino on theGeneva–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.[10] He subsequently wore anocular 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,[10] and the couple married on 28 April 1950,[11] just a week before his coronation.
The marriage took place atSrapathum 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 theOrder of the Royal House of Chakri, and became queen. After thecoronation ceremony on 5 May 1950, both went back to Switzerland to continue their studies, and returned to Bangkok in 1952.
When the king undertook the traditional period as aBuddhist monk in 1956, Queen Sirikit acted as regent.[12]
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She took an oath of office amongst theHouse of Representatives convened at theAnanta 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 theRegent 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 wasQueen Saovabha Phongsri of Siam, who served as regent when her husband KingChulalongkorn travelled to Europe, and later became Queen Sri Patcharindra.[13]
Sirikit and Bhumibol had four children, thirteen grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.[14]
At dawn on 21 July 2012, Sirikit felt unsteady and staggered while exercising atSiriraj Hospital, where her husband resided. After performingmagnetic resonance imaging, a team of physicians determined that she had suffered anischemic stroke.[15] She refrained from further public appearances due to her treatment, including the grand audience granted by her husband on his 85th birthday from theAnanta Samakhom Hall on 5 December 2012.[16]
On 29 November 2016, the palace announced that the queen had been discharged from the hospital and returned to theChitralada Royal Villa for recovery.[17]
Sirikit died at theKing Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital at 21:21ICT (14:21UTC) on 24 October 2025, at the age of 93. The Thai Royal Household Bureau reported that she had died due to complications from ablood 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, KingVajiralongkorn, and Thai prime ministerAnutin Charnvirakul.[18][19][20] Flags in Thailand were also ordered to fly athalf-mast for 30 days.[18] 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.
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International media coverage of Sirikit's overseas tours in the 1960s frequently noted her clothing and style.Time reported in 1962 that she was again placed on the world's best-dressed women list.[21]Vanity Fair later listed her in theInternational Best Dressed Hall of Fame List (1965).[22] In 2025,Town & Country described her as a glamorous fashion icon of the 1950s and 1960s and noted her frequent appearances on international best-dressed lists.[23] She collaborated with French couturierPierre Balmain on outfits made fromThai silk, adding that her promotion of traditional weaving was credited with supporting Thailand's silk industry.[24]
Sirikit's birthday, like King Bhumibol's, is a national holiday, and is alsoMother'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.[25][failed verification] Her work in promotingtolerance and understanding for theMuslim minorities in the southernmost provinces ofPattani,Yala, andNarathiwat made her especially popular amongstThai Muslims.[citation needed] The queen had a strong bond withsouthern Thailand, and she formerly spent months in the Muslim-majority provinces every year.[26]
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Queen Sirikit publishedIn Memory of my European Trip in 1964, which described her time in Europe with the king. She also composed songs for performance byThe Handsome Band, the band of the palace.
The songs she composed were:
Styles of
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| Reference style | Her Majesty |
| Spoken style | Your Majesty |
In 1976, the Thai government honoured the queen by declaring her birthday on 12 August a national holiday.[27]
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Austria: Grand Cross, Special Class of theOrder of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria[29]
Belgium: Dame Grand Cross of theOrder of Leopold I
Brunei: Dame of theMost Esteemed Family Order of Laila Utama
Chile: Dame Grand Cross of theOrder of Merit
Denmark: Knight of theOrder of the Elephant
Ethiopian Imperial Family: Dame Grand Cordon with Collar of theImperial Order of the Queen of Sheba
Egypt: Supreme Class of theOrder of the Virtues
Germany: Grand Cross, Special Class of theOrder of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
Greek Royal Family: Dame Grand Cross of theRoyal Order of Beneficence
Indonesia:Star of Mahaputera, 1st Class
Iranian Imperial Family: Dame Grand Cordon, Special Class of theImperial Order of the Pleiades
Italy: Grand Cross of theOrder of Merit of the Italian Republic[30]
Japan: Dame Grand Cordon of theOrder of the Precious Crown
Lao Royal Family: Dame Grand Cordon of theOrder of the Million Elephants and the White Parasol
Laos: Order of Phoxay Lane Xang
Luxembourg: Dame of theOrder of the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau
Malaysia: Dame Grand Cordon of theMost Exalted Order of the Crown of the Realm
Selangor: First Class of theMost Esteemed Royal Family Order of Selangor
Terengganu: First Class of theMost Distinguished Family Order of Terengganu
Kelantan: Recipient of theMost Esteemed Royal Family Order of Kelantan
Kingdom of Nepal: Member Grand Cross of theOrder of Honour
Netherlands: Dame Grand Cross of theOrder of the Lion of the Netherlands
Norway: Dame Grand Cross of theRoyal Norwegian Order of Saint Olav
Philippines: Grand Cross with Collar of theOrder of the Golden Heart
Portugal:
Romania: Grand Cross of theOrder of the Star of Romania
Spain:
Sweden: Member Grand Cross of theRoyal Order of the Seraphim
Taiwan: Grand Cross of theOrder of Propitious Clouds (1963)[33][34]Queen Sirikit was well known for her charitable work.[35] She was the honorary president of theThai Red Cross Society, a post she had held since 1956. She gained new prominence in this role in the aftermath of thetsunami disaster in southern Thailand in December 2004. She was also active in relief work for the many refugees fromCambodia andMyanmar 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 movieThe Legend of Suriyothai, one of the most lavish and expensive Thai movies ever made.[37]
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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.
Sirikit House of Kitiyakara Cadet branch of theHouse 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 ofThai Red Cross Society 1956–2025 | Vacant |
