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TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian president Prabowo Subianto expressed his condolences on the passing of Thailand’s Queen Mother, Sirikit, the mother of King Maha Vajiralongkorn, during the plenary session of the 47th ASEAN Summit at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC), Malaysia, on Sunday, October 26, 2025.Speaking before ASEAN leaders, President Prabowo extended his appreciation to Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim for successfully hosting the regional summit.He also congratulated Thailand’s new Prime Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, and warmly welcomed Timor-Leste as ASEAN’s 11th member state.“I would like to take this opportunity to convey the deepest condolences from the Indonesian people on the passing of Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother of the Kingdom of Thailand,” Prabowo said, as quoted from an official Presidential Palace statement on Sunday.Queen Sirikit passed away at the age of 93 on October 24, 2025, according to a statement released by the Thai Royal Household a day later.As reported by The Daily Star, the palace said she had been hospitalized since 2019 due to several illnesses and suffered a bloodstream infection on October 17 before passing away on Friday night.The Thai Royal Palace declared a one-year mourning period for the royal family and household members.Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul postponed his planned attendance at the ASEAN Summit to oversee national mourning arrangements. The Thai Cabinet is expected to hold a special meeting to prepare for the royal funeral.Queen Sirikit, who occasionally engaged in politics, had largely withdrawn from public life after suffering a stroke in 2012.Her husband, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, reigned for 70 years from 1946, making him the longest-serving monarch in Thai history.During their joint international visits, Queen Sirikit captivated global audiences with her elegance and impeccable fashion sense.Time magazine once described her as “a true feminist,” while French newspaper L’Aurore praised her as “charming.”Born in 1932, Sirikit Kitiyakara was the daughter of the Thai ambassador to France. While studying music and languages in Paris, she met Bhumibol, who had spent part of his youth in Switzerland.“It was hate at first sight,” she once joked in a BBC documentary, explaining that she was late to their first meeting. “Then we fell in love.”The two became engaged in 1949 and married a year later when she was 17.Known for her refined style, Sirikit collaborated with French designer Pierre Balmain to create elegant ensembles made from Thai silk. Her efforts to preserve traditional weaving helped revive Thailand’s silk industry.For over four decades, she accompanied the king on visits to remote villages, championing development projects for the rural poor—efforts that were broadcast nightly on Thailand’s Royal Bulletin. She also served as regent in 1956 when King Bhumibol temporarily entered a Buddhist monastery.In 1976, her birthday, August 12, was declared Thailand’s National Mother’s Day. After King Bhumibol’s passing in 2016, their only son, King Maha Vajiralongkorn (Rama X), ascended to the throne. Following his coronation in 2019, Sirikit received the official title of Queen Mother.Sita Planasari contributed to the writing of this article.Editor’s Choice: Sirikit: The Life of Thailand's Queen MotherClick here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
