- Sirikit
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Queen Sirikit 
Queen Sirikit in 2007 Queen Consort of Thailand Tenure 28 April 1950 – present
61 years, 208 daysCoronation 5 May 1950 Spouse Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX)
(Since 28 April 1950)Issue Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya
HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn
HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn
HRH Princess Chulabhorn WalailakHouse House of Kitiyakara (by birth)
House of Mahidol (by marriage)
Chakri DynastyFather Nakkhatra Mangkala Kitiyakara,
the Prince of Chanthaburi IIMother Mom Luang Bua Snidwongse Born 12 August 1932
Bangkok, ThailandSignature 
Religion Theravada Buddhism Somdet Phra Nang Chao Sirikit Phra Borommarachininat (Thai: สมเด็จพระนางเจ้าสิริกิติ์ พระบรมราชินีนาถ; Literally: "Her Majesty Queen Regent Sirikit";
listen (help·info); born Mom Rajawongse Sirikit Kitiyakara on August 12, 1932), is the queen consort of Bhumibol Adulyadej, King (Rama IX) of Thailand. She is the second Queen Regent of Thailand (the first Queen Regent was Queen Saovabha Bongsri of Siam, later Queen Sri Patcharindra, the queen mother). As the consort of the king who was until 2010 the world's longest reigning head of state, she is also the world's longest serving consort of a monarch, though Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, more than eleven years her senior, is the oldest currently serving consort.Contents
Early life
Queen Sirikit was born on August 12, 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 Sanidvongs. Her name, which was given by King Prajadhipok, means "the Greatness of Kitiyakara".
She had three siblings; two elder brothers and a younger sister:
- Prof. Mom Rajawongse Galyanakit Kitiyakara, M.D. (September 20, 1929 – May 15, 1987)
- Mom Rajawongse Adulyakit Kitiyakara (November 2, 1930 – May 5, 2004)
- Mom Rajawongse Busba Kitiyakara (born August 2, 1934)
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 Chao Phraya River, Bangkok.
As a child, Sirikit often had outdoor visits with her paternal grandmother. Once in 1933, she traveled with Princess Absornsaman Devakula following King Prajadhipok's tour in Songkla.
Education
The King and Queen after their wedding on the 28 April 1950.
Royal Family of Thailand 
HM The King
HM The Queen- HRH The Crown Prince
HRH Princess Srirasmi- HRH Princess Bajrakitiyabha
- HRH Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana
- HRH Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti
- HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn
- HRH Princess Chulabhorn Walailak
- Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya
- Khun Ploypailin Jensen
- Khun Sirikitiya Jensen
- HRH Princess Soamsawali
At age 4, Sirikit attended the Kindergarten College at Rajini School (sometimes named as the Queen’s college). She studied until her first year at the primary level. During that time was the Pacific War, and Bangkok was attacked many times, thus causing unsafe transportation. She then moved to Saint Francis Xavier Convent School, because it was near the palace. She studied at that school from her second year at the primary level to the secondary level.
In 1946, when the war ended, her father moved to the United Kingdom to work as the ambassador to the Court of St. James's, taking his family with him. At that time, Sirikit was 13 and had graduated the secondary level. While staying in England, she learned to play the piano and learned English and French. She and her family moved to various countries including Denmark and France. While staying in France, she studied at a music academy in Paris.
In France, she met King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who at that time had ascended to the throne and had been studying at Switzerland. Sirikit welcomed the king by accompanying him to various tourist attractions. Both the king and Sirikit happened to be staying at the Thai Royal Embassy in Paris, as well as a few other students. Both the king and Sirikit found common grounds on their likes and dislikes and thus began a relationship.
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 hurt 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 Sangval, who asked her to continue her studies nearby so that the king could get to know her better. Bhumibol selected for her a boarding school 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 (ทะเบียนการสมรส.) As she was not yet 18, her parents also signed, on line 12 directly under her signature. Reproductions of the certificate are popular as souvenirs, and may be found by searching for its common name, "ใบสมรส สิริกิติ์". [1] She later received the Order of the Royal House of Chakri, and became queen. After the coronation ceremony on May 5, 1950, both went back to Switzerland to continue their studies, and returned to Bangkok in 1952.
Regency
When the king undertook a period of service as a Buddhist monk in 1956 (as is customary for all Thai Buddhist males), Queen Sirikit became regent.[2] She performed her duties so satisfactorily that she was made queen regent and given the style of "Somdej Phra Nang Chao Sirikit Phra Borommarachininat" by her husband on his birthday, December 5, 1956. Upon this inception, she became the second Siamese queen regent. The first queen regent was Queen Saovabha Bongsri of Siam, who was regent when her husband King Chulalongkorn travelled to Europe, and later became Queen Sri Patcharindra, the queen mother.
Children
Sirikit in Germany with President Heinrich Lübke and his wife Wilhelmine, 1960.The couple has 4 children; 3 daughters and a son:
- (Formerly HRH) Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya, born April 5, 1951 in Lausanne, Switzerland; married Peter Ladd Jensen, has 2 daughters (one son deceased)
- HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, born July 28, 1952; married first time with Mom Luang Soamsavali Kitiyakara (later divorced and became HRH the Princess Niece); has 1 daughter. Then married second time with Yuvadhida Polpraserth; has 4 sons and a daughter. And married third time with Srirasmi Akharaphongpreecha; has one son.
- HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, born April 2, 1955; unmarried
- HRH Princess Chulabhorn Walailak, born July 4, 1957; married Virayudh Didyasarin, (then divorced); has 2 daughters
Cultural identity
Queen Sirikit's birthday, like the king's, is a national holiday, and is also Mothers' Day in the country. 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 the local Muslim populace. The queen has a strong bond with southern Thailand. She spends months in the Muslim-majority provinces every year. This role of the queen is considered to be as one of the more quiet diplomats.[3]
Books and writing
Royal flag of Queen Sirikit, often seen around Thailand in August (near her birthday and Mother's day).Queen Sirikit published the book In Memory of my European Trip in 1964, her memoirs describing her time in Europe with the king. It was this book that made the people realise that she was a talented writer. Moreover, she composed many songs for performing with The Handsome Band, the music band of the palace.
The songs she composed were:
- Chao Chom Kwan (เจ้าจอมขวัญ)
- Thas Ther (ทาสเธอ)
- Sai Yud (สายหยุด)
- Nang Yam (นางแย้ม)
Charitable works and honors
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 Sirikit Medical Center building, Ramathibodi Hospital
- The Queen Sirikit Centre for Breast Cancer, a new 10 storey hospital in Bangkok
- the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center in Bangkok
- the Queen Sirikit Park in Bangkok
- the Sirikit Dam on the Nan River, Uttaradit Province
- the Queen Sirikit Botanical Garden, Chiang Mai Province[4]
- the Queen Sirikit Arboretum Garden, Pathum Thani Province
- the Queen Sirikit Cup, an annual Asian-Pacific golf Teams Event
- the Queen Sirikit Crab (Thaiphusa sirikit)
- the Queen Sirikit Rose
- the Queen's Cup, annual football competition
The queen is also active in promoting Thai culture and history, mainly because of her initiative in the making of the Thai movie The Legend of Suriyothai, one of the most lavish and expensive Thai movies ever made.[5]
Awards
Year Award Awarder 1979 CERES Gold Medal Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 1985 Humanitarian Award Asia Society 1986 Best Conservationist Certificate World Wildlife Fund 1990 Immigration and Refugee Policy Award The Center of Migration Studies 1991 International Humanitarian Award Friends of the National Children's Museum, Washington, DC 1992 Gold Medal for Outstanding Leadership Asian Institute of Technology 1992 UNESCO Borobudur Gold Medal United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization 1992 UNICEF Special Recognition Award United Nations Children's Fund 1992 Award of Excellence United Nations Development Fund for Women 1992 UNEP Gold Medal of Distinction United Nations Environment Programme 1993 Woman of the Year 1993 Award Stanford University 1995 1995 Lindbergh Award The Lindbergh Foundation 2000 Merite de Invention The Belgian Chamber of Inventors 2001 Special Prix Bulgarian American Chamber of Commercial and Industry 2002 Louis Pasteur Award International Sericultural Commission 2002 Award for Humanitarian Service The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center 2004 IUCN Gold Medal International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources 2005 Food Safety Award World Health Organization Honorary degrees
Title and ranks
Monarchical styles of
Queen Sirikit of Thailand
Reference style Her Royal Majesty Spoken style Your Royal Majesty Alternative style Madame Her formal name and title is Somdet Phra Nang Chao Sirikit Phra Borommarachininat (Thai: สมเด็จพระนางเจ้าสิริกิติ์ พระบรมราชินีนาถ; "Her Majesty Queen Regent Sirikit"). However, her official title is just 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, among the Royal Thai Army.
- 12 August 1932 – 28 April 1950: The Honourable (English style) or Mom Rajawongse (Thai style) Sirikit Kitiyakara
- 28 April 1950 – 5 December 1956: Her Majesty Queen Sirikit of Thailand
- 5 December 1956–present: Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, Queen Regent of Thailand
In 1976, the Thai government honored the queen by declaring her birthday a national holiday. "Her Majesty the Queen's Birthday" is celebrated on August 12 each year.[6]
Ancestry
Ancestors of Sirikit 16. (=20) King Mongkut, Rama IV 8. King Chulalongkorn, Rama V 17. Queen Debsirindra 4. Kitiyakara Voralaksana, the Prince of Chanthaburi I 18. Yim Bisalayabutra 9. Uam Bisalayabutra 19. Prang Sombatsiri 2. Nakkhatra Mangkala Kitiyakara, the Prince of Chanthaburi II 20. (=16) King Mongkut, Rama IV 10. Devan Uthaivongse, the Prince Devavongse Varoprakarn 21. Piam Sucharitakul 5. Princess Absornsaman Devakula 22. Hongse Sucharitakul 11. Yai Sucharitakul 23. Taad Dhammasaroj-Indravimala 1. Sirikit Kitiyakara 24. Navama, the Prince Vongsadhirajasanid 12. Prince Sai Sanidvongs 6. Sadan Sanidvongs 13. Khian Sasisamit 3. Bua Sanidvongs 7. Bang Sucharitakul References
- ^ a b Handley, Paul M. (2006). The King Never Smiles: A Biography of Thailand's Bhumibol Adulyadej, pp. 103-4. Yale University Press.
- ^ Handley (2006), p. 131-32.
- ^ Morris, Kylie (2004, 16 November), http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4017485.stm "Thai Queen's plea to end violence", News, UK: BBC, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4017485.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4017485.stm, retrieved 7 July 2008.
- ^ Ridout, Lucy (2009). The Rough Guide to Thailand, p. 357. Penguin.
- ^ "Thailand's Suriyothai beats Titanic", News, UK: BBC, 2001, 23 November, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1672246.stm, retrieved 7 July 2008.
- ^ Forbes, Andrew (2010). DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Thailand's Beaches & Islands, p. 35. Dorling Kindersley Limited.
SirikitBorn: 12 August 1932Regnal titles Preceded by
Princess Rambhai Barni SvastivatanaQueen Consort of Thailand
1951 – presentIncumbent Queens and Consorts of the Chakri Dynasty 
Sri Suriyendra • Kundhon DibayavadiFourth ReignSoamanas Vadhanavadi • Debsirindra • PannaraiFifth ReignSunandha Kumariratana • Sukhumala Marasri • Savang Vadhana • Saovabha BongsriSixth ReignLaksamilawan • Indrasakdi Sachi • SuvadhanaSeventh ReignRambhai BarniNinth Reign (current)Sirikit (current)Bold indicate Queen Consorts; the others indicate Princess Consorts.Categories:- 1932 births
- Living people
- Chakri Dynasty
- Thai queens consort
- House of Mahidol
- House of Kitiyakara
- Female regents
- Marshals of the Royal Thai Air Force
- Centro Escolar University alumni
- Regents of Thailand
- Dames of the Order of the Royal House of Chakri
- Dames of the Order of the Nine Gems
- Dames Grand Cross of the Order of Chula Chom Klao
- Dames Grand Cordon of the Order of the White Elephant
- Dames Grand Cordon of the Order of the Crown of Thailand
- Dames Grand Cross of the Order of the Direkgunabhorn
- Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St. Olav
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