Thailand's Queen Mother Sirikit dies at 93

The beloved figure died after developing a blood infection in mid-October.

- By Denis D. Gray, JINTAMAS SAKSORNCHAI AND TIAN MACLEOD JI

A MOURNER shows respect in front of a portrait of Queen Mother Sirikit.

(PEERAPON BOONYAKIAT SOPA Images)

Thailand’s Queen Mother Sirikit, who supervised royal projects to help the rural poor, preserve traditional craft-making and protect the environment, died Friday. She was 93.

The Royal Household Bureau said she died in a hospital in Bangkok after developing a blood infection Oct. 17. Since suffering a stroke in 2012, she was largely absent from public life due to declining health. Her husband, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, died in October 2016.

The bureau's statement said King Maha Vajiralongkorn, Sirikit’s son, directed she be given a funeral with the highest honors, and he instructed members of the royal family and royal servants to observe a one-year period of mourning.

Mourners gathered outside Chulalongkorn Hospital on Saturday morning after hearing the news.

“It is yet again another great loss for the whole nation. I heard about it at 4 a.m. I felt like fainting. The whole world seemed like it had stopped,” said 67-year-old Maneerat Laowalert.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said Saturday that Sirikit’s passing was “a great loss for the country.” He said the national flag will fly at half-staff at all government agencies for 30 days, and civil servants will observe mourning for one year.