Queen Mother Sirikit of Thailand has passed away at the age of 93. The Royal Palace confirmed her death in an official statement issued on Saturday night.
According to palace officials, the Queen Mother had been suffering from various health complications since 2019. On October 17 this year, she was diagnosed with a blood infection and had been receiving treatment at a hospital, where she passed away on Friday night.
Her death has cast a deep shadow of grief across the nation. A one-year national mourning period has been declared for members of the royal family and palace staff.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has canceled his scheduled trip to attend the ASEAN Summit in Malaysia following the Queen Mother’s death, according to a government spokesperson.
Queen Mother Sirikit had rarely appeared in public since suffering a stroke in 2012. Her husband, the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, was Thailand’s longest-reigning monarch, ruling the country for 70 consecutive years from 1946.
The Thai people remember Queen Mother Sirikit as a symbol of compassion, maternal grace, and humanitarian service. Her passing is being observed with deep respect and sorrow throughout the country.
Notably, criticism of the Thai royal family is strictly prohibited under the country’s law, and even remarks deemed disrespectful toward deceased royal members are punishable offenses.
Sources: The Guardian, CNN.