Sirikit facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
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| Queen Mother of Thailand | |
Queen Sirikit in 1960
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| Queen consort of Thailand | |
| Tenure | 28 April 1950 – 13 October 2016 |
| Coronation | 5 May 1950 |
| Regent of Thailand | |
| Regency | 22 October 1956 – 5 November 1956 |
| Monarch | Bhumibol Adulyadej |
| Born | Sirikit Kitiyakara 12 August 1932 Bangkok, Siam |
| Died | 24 October 2025 (aged 93) Bangkok, Thailand |
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| Father | Nakkhatra Mangala |
| Mother | Bua Snidvongs |
| Religion | Theravada Buddhism |
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Sirikit (born Mom Rajawongse Sirikit Kitiyakara; 12 August 1932 – 24 October 2025) was a beloved member of the Thai royal family. She served as the Queen of Thailand from 1950 to 2016. She was the wife of King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX) and the mother of the current King Vajiralongkorn (Rama X).
Queen Sirikit met King Bhumibol in Paris when her father was the Thai ambassador there. They married in 1950, just before his coronation. In 1956, she became queen regent when the King spent time as a Buddhist monk. She had four children with the King. Queen Sirikit was the world's longest-serving queen consort. She experienced a stroke in 2012 and had limited public appearances. She passed away on October 24, 2025, as announced by the palace.
Contents
Early Life and Royal Family Connections
Sirikit was born on 12 August 1932, in Bangkok, Siam. She was the third child and eldest daughter of Prince Nakkhatra Mangala and Bua Snidvongs. Her name, given by Queen Rambai Barni, means "the greatness of Kitiyakara."
She had three siblings:
- Mom Rajawongse Kalyanakit Kitiyakara (1929 – 1987)
- Mom Rajawongse Adulakit Kitiyakara (1930 – 2004)
- Than Phu Ying Busba Kitiyakara (born 1934)
Sirikit lived with her grandparents for a year after her birth. Her parents were working in the United States at the Siamese Embassy. When she was one year old, her family returned to Thailand and lived in Deves Palace in Bangkok.
Education and Meeting the King
At age four, Sirikit began her studies at Rajini School. Due to the Pacific War and bombings in Bangkok, she later moved to Saint Francis Xavier Convent School, which was closer to the palace.
In 1946, after the war, her father became the ambassador to the United Kingdom. Sirikit moved with her family and completed her secondary education there. She learned to play the piano and became fluent in English and French. Her family later moved to other countries, including Denmark and France, where she studied music in Paris.
It was in France that Sirikit met King Bhumibol Adulyadej. They were related, both being descendants of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V). King Bhumibol was studying in Switzerland at the time. They spent time together visiting tourist spots and discovered they had many things in common.
Royal Marriage and Children
In 1948, King Bhumibol had a car accident in Switzerland. Sirikit visited him often while he was in the hospital. His mother suggested she continue her studies nearby so they could get to know each other better. They became engaged in Lausanne on 19 July 1949.
The couple married on 28 April 1950, just one week before King Bhumibol's coronation. The wedding took place at Srapathum Palace. Queen Sri Savarindira, the Queen Grandmother, led the ceremony. After their coronation, they returned to Switzerland to finish their studies before coming back to Bangkok in 1952.
Queen Sirikit and King Bhumibol Adulyadej had four children:
- Princess Ubolratana (born 5 April 1951)
- Vajiralongkorn (Rama X) (born 28 July 1952)
- Sirindhorn, Princess Royal (born 2 April 1955)
- Chulabhorn, Princess Srisavangavadhana (born 4 July 1957)
Serving as Regent
In 1956, King Bhumibol Adulyadej followed a tradition of becoming a Buddhist monk for a period. During this time, Queen Sirikit took on the important role of regent. She managed the country's affairs so well that she was officially given the title 'Somdet Phra Nang Chao Sirikit Phra Borommarachininat' by the King. This made her the second Siamese queen regent in Thai history.
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Later Years and Health
On 21 July 2012, Queen Sirikit experienced a stroke. After this, she made fewer public appearances. She received medical care and was discharged from the hospital on 29 November 2016, returning to the Chitralada Royal Villa. Queen Sirikit passed away on October 24, 2025.
Cultural Impact and Legacy
Queen Sirikit's birthday, 12 August, is a national holiday in Thailand and is also celebrated as Mother's Day. She was deeply respected, especially in traditional parts of the country. She worked to promote understanding among Muslim communities in Thailand's southern provinces, making her very popular there. She often spent months in these provinces each year.
Books and Music
In 1964, Queen Sirikit published a book called In Memory of my European Trip. This book shared her experiences traveling in Europe with the King. She also composed several songs for the palace band, The Handsome Band.
Her songs included:
- Chao Chom Khwan (เจ้าจอมขวัญ)
- That Thoe (ทาสเธอ)
- Sai Yut (สายหยุด)
- Nang Yaem (นางแย้ม)
Honours and Recognition
In 1976, the Thai government honored Queen Sirikit by making her birthday a national holiday. She received many awards and honors throughout her life for her service to Thailand.
Styles of
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| Reference style | Her Majesty |
| Spoken style | Your Majesty |
Places and Organizations Named After Her
Queen Sirikit was known for her charitable work. She was the honorary president of the Thai Red Cross since 1956. She also helped many refugees from Cambodia and Myanmar in Thailand.
Many important places and organizations in Thailand are named in her honor:
- The Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health (a children's hospital)
- The Queen Sirikit Medical Center building at Ramathibodi Hospital
- The Queen Sirikit Centre for Breast Cancer in Bangkok
- The Queen Sirikit National Convention Center in Bangkok
- The Queen Sirikit Park in Bangkok
- The Sirikit Dam on the Nan River
- The Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden in Chiang Mai Province
- The Queen Sirikit Arboretum Garden in Pathum Thani Province
- The Queen Sirikit Cup, an annual Asian-Pacific golfing event
- The Queen Sirikit Crab (Thaiphusa sirikit)
- The Queen Sirikit Rose
- The Queen's Cup, an annual football competition
- Fort Sirikit, a military encampment and headquarters of the Artillery Division of the Royal Thai Army.
The Queen also actively promoted Thai culture and history. She supported the making of the Thai movie The Legend of Suriyothai, which was a grand and expensive film.
See also
In Spanish: Sirikit para niños
- List of covers of Time magazine (1960s)
