Queen Sirikit, the mother of Thailand's King Vajiralongkorn, has died aged 93. She passed away peacefully in a Bangkok hospital at 21:21 local time (14:21 GMT) on Friday, according to the Thai Royal Household Bureau.
Sirikit had suffered several illnesses while in hospital since 2019, including a blood infection this month, it added.
For more than six decades, Queen Sirikit was married to Thailand's longest-reigning monarch, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who died in 2016. In their globe-trotting heyday, she was seen as a style icon.
King Vajiralongkorn has ordered that the Thai Royal Household Bureau organise a royal funeral. The statement added that Queen Sirikit's body will lie in state at the Grand Palace's Dusit Thorne Hall in Bangkok, while members of the Thai royal family will observe a year of mourning.
Queen Sirikit met her future husband, King Bhumibol, while studying music in Paris, and their relationship would become a cornerstone of the Thai monarchy. Fondly referred to as a maternal figure for the nation, her birthday, 12 August, is celebrated as Mother's Day in Thailand since 1976.
Throughout her life, she emphasized the importance of the monarchy's connection to the Thai people, stating, Kings and queens of Thailand have always been in close contact with the people.\
Survived by her son and three daughters, Queen Sirikit leaves behind a rich legacy characterized by her commitment to social welfare and cultural identity within Thailand.
