Sirikit

Sirikit
Queen Dowager of Thailand

Sirikit in Russia, 2007
Queen consort of Thailand
Tenure 28 April 1950 – 13 October 2016
Coronation 5 May 1950
Born (1932-08-12) 12 August 1932
Pathum Wan, Bangkok, Siam
Spouse Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX) (m. 1950–2016)
Issue Ubolratana Rajakanya
Vajiralongkorn
Sirindhorn
Chulabhorn Walailak
House Kitiyakara (Chakri Dynasty)
Father Nakkhatra Mangala, Prince of Chanthaburi
Mother Bua Snidvongs
Religion Buddhism
Signature

Sirikit (Thai: สิริกิติ์; Thai pronunciation: [sì.rì.kìt];  listen ; born Mom Rajawongse Sirikit Kitiyakara (Thai: สิริกิติ์ กิติยากร; rtgs: Sirikit Kitiyakon) on 12 August 1932) is the queen dowager of Thailand. She was the queen consort of King Bhumibol Adulyadej (or Rama IX) and is the mother of King Vajiralongkorn (or Rama X). She met Bhumibol in Paris, where her father was Thai ambassador. They married in 1950, shortly before Bhumibol's coronation. Sirikit was appointed queen regent in 1956. Sirikit has one son and three daughters with the king. Consort of the monarch who was the world's longest-reigning head of state, she was also the world's longest-serving consort. Sirikit suffered a stroke on 21 July 2012 and has since refrained from public appearances.

Early life and family

Queen Consort of
the Chakri Dynasty
Amarindra
(Rama I)
Sri Suriyendra
(Rama II)
Debsirindra
(Rama IV)
Saovabha Phongsri
(Rama V)
Indrasakdi Sachi
(Rama VI)
Rambai Barni
(Rama VII)
Sirikit
(Rama IX)

Sirikit was born on 12 August 1932, at the home of Lord Vongsanuprabhand, her maternal grandfather. She is the eldest daughter and the third child of Prince Nakkhatra Mangkala Kitiyakara, the son of Prince Kitiyakara Voralaksana, and Mom Luang Bua Snidvongs (1909-1999). Her name, which was given by King Prajadhipok, means "the greatness of Kitiyakara".

She had three siblings, two elder brothers and a younger sister:

Sirikit was raised by her maternal grandparents for a year after her birth, as her father went to United States to work as the secretary of the Siamese Royal Embassy 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 the Chao Phraya River, Bangkok.

As a child, Sirikit often visited her paternal grandmother. Once in 1933, she travelled with Princess Absornsaman Devakula following King Prajadhipok's tour in Songkhla.

Education

The King and Queen after their wedding, 28 April 1950.

At age four, Sirikit attended the Kindergarten College at Rajini School (sometimes called the Queen's College), where she studied at the primary level. During that time the Pacific 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 Xavier from her second primary year through the early secondary level.

In 1946, with the war now over, her father moved to the United Kingdom as the ambassador to the Court 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 diplomatic, the family moved to other countries, including Denmark and France. While in France, she studied at a music academy in Paris.

Also in France, Sirikit met King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who was related to her, since both were descendants of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V). At that time, Bhumibol had ascended to the throne and was studying in Switzerland. Bhumibol and Sirikit (as well as a few other students) were staying at the Thai Royal Embassy in Paris. Sirikit accompanied the king as he visited various tourist attractions, and they found that they had much in common.

Marriage

Queen Sirikit during a parade in New York City, July 1960.

On 4 October 1948, while Bhumibol was driving a Fiat Topolino on the Geneva-Lausanne road, he collided into 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.[1] He subsequently wore an ocular 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,[1] and the couple married on 28 April 1950, just a week before his coronation.

The marriage took place at Srapathum 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 the Order of the Royal House of Chakri, and became queen. After the coronation ceremony on 5 May 1950, both went back to Switzerland to continue their studies, and returned to Bangkok in 1952.

Issue

Name Birth Marriage
Date | Spouse 		Their Children Their Grandchildren
Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya 5 April 1951 29 July 1981
Divorced 1998 		Peter Ladd Jensen Ploypailin Jensen Maximus Wheeler
Leonardo Wheeler
Poom Jensen
Sirikitiya Jensen
King Maha Vajiralongkorn Rama X 28 July 1952 3 January 1977
Divorced 12 August 1991 		Soamsawali Kitiyakara Princess Bajrakitiyabha
February 1994
Divorced 1996		 Yuvadhida Polpraserth Juthavachara Vivacharawongse
Vacharaesorn Vivacharawongse
Chakriwat Vivacharawongse
Vatchrawee Vivacharawongse
Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana
10 February 2001
Divorced 11 December 2014		 Srirasmi Suwadee Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti
Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn 2 April 1955 Never married
Princess Chulabhorn Walailak 4 July 1957 1982
Divorced 1996 		Virayudh Tishyasarin Princess Siribhachudhabhorn
Princess Adityadhornkitikhun

Regency

Bhumibol and Sirikit, 1963.

When the king undertook the traditional period as a Buddhist monk in 1956, Queen Sirikit acted as regent.[2] She performed her duties so well that she was officially named the Regent 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 was Queen Saovabha Bongsri of Siam, who served as regent when her husband King Chulalongkorn travelled to Europe, and later became Queen Sri Patcharindra.

Health

At dawn on 21 July 2012 Queen Sirikit felt unsteady and staggered while exercising at Siriraj Hospital where King Bhumibol Adulyadej resided. A team of physicians determined after performing magnetic resonance imaging that she had incurred an ischemic stroke.[3]

The queen has been treated and has refrained from public appearances since, including the grand audience granted by her husband on his 85th birthday from the Ananta Samakhom Hall on 5 December 2012.[4]

On 29 November 2016, the palace announced that the queen was discharged from the hospital and has returned to the Chitralada Royal Villa due to her recovery.[5]

Cultural status

Queen Sirikit's birthday, as is the king's, is a national holiday, and is also Mothers' Day in Thailand. She is particularly revered in the more remote and traditional parts of the country, where the monarchy is regarded as semi-divine. Her work in promoting tolerance and understanding for the Muslim minorities in the southernmost provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat have made her especially popular amongst Thai Muslims. The queen has a strong bond with southern Thailand, and she formerly spent months in the Muslim-majority provinces every year. She is considered to be one of the more quiet diplomats.[6]

Books and writing

Personal Standard of Queen Sirikit, often flown in August (near her birthday and Mothers' Day).

Queen Sirikit published In Memory of my European Trip in 1964, which described her time in Europe with the king. It was this book that revealed that she was a talented writer. Moreover, she has composed songs for performance by The Handsome Band, the band of the palace.

The songs she composed were:

Title, styles, honours and awards

Titles

Styles of
Queen Sirikit of Thailand
Reference style Her Majesty
Spoken style Your Majesty
Alternative style Ma'am

Her formal name and title is Somdet Phra Nang Chao Sirikit Phra Borommarachininat Thai: สมเด็จพระนางเจ้าสิริกิติ์ พระบรมราชินีนาถ; "Her Majesty Queen Regent Sirikit". Her official title is Queen Sirikit.

At present, the queen ranks as Field Marshal, Admiral of the Fleet, and Marshal of the Royal Thai Air Force, usually mentioned in official documents that: Chom Phon Ying Chom Phon Ruea Ying Chom Phon Akat Ying Somdet Phra Nang Chao Sirikit Phra Borommarachininat Thai: จอมพลหญิง จอมพลเรือหญิง จอมพลอากาศหญิง สมเด็จพระนางเจ้าสิริกิติ์ พระบรมราชินีนาถ; "Her Majesty Queen Regent Sirikit, the Field Marshal, Admiral of the Fleet, and Marshal of the Royal Thai Air Force". The queen holds ceremonial supreme power, after her husband who ranks as the Head of the Royal Thai Armed Forces, in the Royal Thai Army.

In 1976, the Thai government honored the queen by declaring her birthday a national holiday. The Queen's birthday is celebrated on 12 August each year.[7]

Honours

National honours

Thailand Thailand  : Knight Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rajamitrabhorn[8]

Foreign honours

Honours from former sovereign families

Awards

YearAwardAwarded by
1960Hall of FameInternational Best Dressed List
1979CERES Gold MedalFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
1985Humanitarian AwardAsia Society
1986Best Conservationist CertificateWorld Wildlife Fund
1990Immigration and Refugee Policy AwardThe Center of Migration Studies
1991International Humanitarian AwardFriends of the National Children's Museum, Washington, DC
1992Gold Medal for Outstanding LeadershipAsian Institute of Technology
1992UNESCO Borobudur Gold MedalUnited Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
1992UNICEF Special Recognition AwardUnited Nations Children's Fund
1992Award of ExcellenceUnited Nations Development Fund for Women
1992UNEP Gold Medal of DistinctionUnited Nations Environment Programme
1993Woman of the Year 1993 AwardStanford University
19951995 Lindbergh AwardThe Lindbergh Foundation
2000Merite de InventionThe Belgian Chamber of Inventors
2001Special PrixBulgarian American Chamber of Commercial and Industry
2002Louis Pasteur AwardInternational Sericultural Commission
2002Award for Humanitarian ServiceThe University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
2004IUCN Gold MedalInternational Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
2005Food Safety AwardWorld Health Organization

Honorary degrees

YearFieldAcademy
1957Social WorkThammasat University
1960Public HealthMahidol University
1961Political ScienceChulalongkorn University
1962Home EconomicsKasetsart University
1963HumanitiesCentro Escolar University (Philippines)
1965Decorative ArtsSilpakorn University
1969AgricultureKhon Kaen University
1970PsychologyChiang Mai University
1970Development EconomicsNational Institute of Development Administration
1981Humane LettersTufts University (United States of America)
1983Political ScienceThammasat University
1984Industrial DesignChulalongkorn University
1984Home EconomicsSukhothai Thammathirat University
−1987Humane LettersConcord College (United States of America)
1988MedicineMahidol University
1989ForestryThammasat University
1989Business AdministrationKhon Kaen University
1990Industrial DesignKing Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang
1990Vocational Education AdministrationKing Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang
1990Public HealthSukhothai Thammathirat University
1991FinanceKhon Kaen University
1991General AdministrationRamkhamhaeng University
1992Technology of Environmental ManagementMahidol University
1992EducationChulalongkorn University
1992MarketingKasetsart University
1992Thai ArtsSilpakorn University
1993Humane LettersGeorgetown University (United States of America)
1995Humane LettersJohns Hopkins University (United States of America)
1997PhilosophyTokai University (Japan)
2000Thai LanguageThaksin University
2003Visual Communication DesignKhon Kaen University
2004Textile, Costume, Garment and Fashion DesignThammasat University
2004Social Development ManagementKhon Kaen University
2004Natural Resource ManagementKing Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi
2004Environmental ManagementPrince of Songkla University
2005Food ScienceKasetsart University
2006Cultural StudiesSongkhla Rajabhat University
2007Eastern Languages and CulturesUniversity of Saint Petersburg (Russia)

Eponyms

Queen Sirikit is well known for her charitable work, where she is the honorary president of the Thai Red Cross, a post she has held since 1956. She gained new prominence in this role in the aftermath of the tsunami disaster in southern Thailand in December 2004. She has also been active in relief work for the many refugees from Cambodia and Burma in Thailand.

Many things in Thailand have been named after the Queen:

The queen is also active in promoting Thai culture and history, mainly through her initiative in the making of the Thai movie The Legend of Suriyothai, one of the most lavish and expensive Thai movies ever made.[31]

Ancestry

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Handley, Paul M. (2006). The King Never Smiles: A Biography of Thailand's Bhumibol Adulyadej, pp. 103–4. Yale University Press.
  2. ↑ Handley (2006), p. 131-32.
  3. ↑ "Statement of the Bureau of the Royal Household, Re: Her Majesty the Queen falls ill at Siriraj Hospital, dated 21 July 2012." (pdf) (in Thai). Bureau of the Royal Household. 21 July 2012. Retrieved 5 December 2012.
  4. ↑ "Statement of the Bureau of the Royal Household, Re: Her Majesty the Queen falls ill at Siriraj Hospital, No. 12, dated 4 December 2012." (pdf) (in Thai). Bureau of the Royal Household. 4 December 2012. Retrieved 5 December 2012.
  5. ↑ "แถลงการณ์สำนักพระราชวัง "พระราชินี" พระอาการทั่วไปดีขึ้นมาก เสด็จกลับประทับพระตำหนักจิตรลดาฯ". Matichon Online (in Thai). Bangkok: Matichon. 2016-11-29. Retrieved 2016-11-29.
  6. ↑ Morris, Kylie (16 November 2004), "Thai Queen's plea to end violence", News, UK: BBC, retrieved 7 July 2008.
  7. ↑ Forbes, Andrew (2010). DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Thailand's Beaches & Islands, p. 35. Dorling Kindersley Limited.
  8. ↑ "Image: my-king.jpg, (400 × 312 px)". thailanguagehut.com. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
  9. ↑ "Image: king-bhumibol-adulyadej_queen-consort-sirikit_health_family-life--w=1500.jpg, (1500 × 844 px)". royalista.com. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
  10. ↑ "Image: rubyem.jpg, (270 × 432 px)". soravij.com. 8 August 2004. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
  11. ↑ Sirikit wearing the Order of the Nine Gems
  12. ↑ "Image: DSC06881.JPG, (443 × 660 px)". oknation.net. 10 August 2007. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
  13. ↑ "Image: events_6584_1.jpg, (400 × 583 px)". thecottagesuvarnabhumi.com. 10 August 2007. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
  14. ↑ "Image: T0015_0001_01.jpg, (360 × 480 px)". ohm.go.th. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
  15. ↑ "Image: Queen+Sirikit%252C+1988.jpg, (1039 × 1420 px)". 3.bp.blogspot.com. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
  16. ↑ "Image: 58ca2668f9e39efee060af5f7caf5393.jpg, (236 × 351 px)". s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
  17. ↑ "S.M. Sirikit Regina di Tailandia, Cavaliere di Gran Croce Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana" (in Italian). Retrieved 8 May 2013.
  18. ↑ "King Bhumibol, Queen Sirikit And King Baudouin I Of Belgium. News Photo | Getty Images". gettyimages.co.uk. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
  19. ↑ "Boletín Oficial del Estado" (PDF). boe.es. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
  20. ↑ "Boletín Oficial del Estado" (PDF). boe.es. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
  21. ↑ "Image: 6ce28541f1e8743de82cf432effb3e0a.jpg, (236 × 375 px)". s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
  22. ↑ "Senarai Penuh Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat Persekutuan Tahun 1962." (PDF).
  23. ↑ Malaysia - Queen Sirikit's photo, wearing the order
  24. ↑ Photo of Sirikit wearing the Order of the Precious Crown
  25. ↑ "Reply to a parliamentary question" (pdf) (in German). p. 171. Retrieved 12 October 2012.
  26. ↑ "PANTIP.COM : K6844924 พราวเพชรา อร่ามงามตางานเครื่องทอง คู่พระเกียรติยศ พระบารมี ราชจักรีวงศ์ [ประวัติศาสตร์]". topicstock.pantip.com. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
  27. ↑ Photo of the State visit of Laotian President in Thailand
  28. ↑ Iran - Photo of the order worn by the Queen
  29. ↑ Nepal - Photo of Sirikit wearing the Order
  30. ↑ Ridout, Lucy (2009). The Rough Guide to Thailand, p. 357. Penguin.
  31. ↑ "Thailand's Suriyothai beats Titanic", News, UK: BBC, 23 November 2001, retrieved 7 July 2008.
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Sirikit
Born: 12 August 1932
Thai royalty
Vacant
Title last held by
Rambhai Barni Svastivatana		 Queen Consort of Thailand
1950–2016 		Vacant
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