SIRIKIT

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 currently is the world's longest reigning head of state, she is also the world's longest serving consort of a monarch.
Contents[hide]
1 Early life
2 Education
3 Marriage
4 Regency
5 Children
6 Cultural identity
7 Books and writing
8 Charitable works and honors
9 Health
10 Awards
11 Honorary Degrees
12 Title and ranks
13 Ancestry
14 References
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[edit] 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 Voraluksana, Prince of Chanthaburi I and Mom Luang Bua Sanitvongse. Her name was given by King Prajadhipok. Her name means the Greatness of Kitiyakara.
She has 3 siblings; 2 elder brothers and a younger sister:
Prof. Mom Rajawongse Galyanakit Kitiyakara, M.D. (born September 20, 1929, died May 15, 1987)
Mom Rajawongse Adulyakit Kitiyakara (born November 2, 1930, died May 5, 2004)
Mom Rajawongse Busba Kitiyakara (born August 2, 1934)
After her birth, Sirikit was raised by her maternal grandparents for a year. Soon after her birth, 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. At the age of one, her parents returned to Thailand. Sirikit lived together with her family in Dheves 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 Absornsamarn Devakul following King Prajadhipok’s tour in Songkla.
[edit] Education

The King and Queen after their wedding on the 28 April 1950.
Royal Family of Thailand

HM The KingHM The Queen
HRH The Crown PrinceHRH Princess Srirasmi
HRH Princess Bajrakitiyabha
HRH Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana
HRH Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti
HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn
HRH Princess Chulabhorn Walailak
HRH Princess Siribhachudhabhorn
HRH Princess Adityadhornkitikhun
Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya
Khun Ploypailin Jensen
Khun Sirikitiya Jensen
HRH Princess Bejaratana Rajasuda
HRH Princess Soamsavali Kitiyakara
HH Princess Inthuratna Paribatra
Thanpuying Dhasanawalaya Sornsongkram
v • d • e
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.
[edit] 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 sight in his right eye. 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, 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 their name in their marriage licenses. Later, she received the Order of the Royal House of Chakri, and then became queen. Later, after the coronation ceremony on May 5, 1950, both went back to Switzerland to study and came back to Bangkok again in 1952.
[edit] 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. 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. (later Queen Sri Patcharindra, the queen mother)
[edit] 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
[edit] 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.[1]
[edit] 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)
[edit] 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 who have sought refuge 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
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.[2]
[edit] Health
While it is impossible to reference due to the sensitive nature of much to do with the health of the Thai royal family, there are reports that Sirikit takes many steroids due to various health conditions. This may explain the puffiness in her cheeks that did not exist when she was younger.
[edit] 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 D.C.
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
[edit] Honorary Degrees
Year
Field
Academy
1957
Social Work
Thammasat University
1960
Public Health
Mahidol University
1961
Political Science
Chulalongkorn University
1962
Home Economics
Kasetsart University
1963
Humanities
Centro Escolar University (Philippines)
1965
Decorative Arts
Silpakorn University
1969
Agriculture
Khon Kaen University
1970
Psychology
Chiang Mai University
1970
Development Economics
National Institute of Development Administration
1981
Humane Letters
Tufts University (United States of America)
1983
Political Science
Thammasat University
1984
Industrial Design
Chulalongkorn University
1984
Home Economics
Sukhothai Thammathirat University
1988
Medicine
Mahidol University
1989
Forestry
Thammasat University
1989
Business Administration
Khon Kaen University
1990
Industrial Design
King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang
1990
Vocational Education Administration
King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang
1990
Public Health
Sukhothai Thammathirat University
1991
Finance
Khon Kaen University
1991
General Administration
Ramkhamhaeng University
1992
Technology of Environmental Management
Mahidol University
1992
Education
Chulalongkorn University
1992
Marketing
Kasetsart University
1992
Thai Arts
Silpakorn University
1993
Humane Letters
Georgetown University (United States of America)
1995
Humane Letters
Johns Hopkins University (United States of America)
1997
Philosophy
Tokai University (Japan)
2000
Thai Language
Thaksin University
2003
Visual Communication Design
Khon Kaen University
2004
Textile, Costume,Garment and Fashion Design
Thammasat University
2004
Social Development Management
Khon Kaen University
2004
Natural Resource Management
King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi
2004
Environmental Management
Prince of Songkla University
2005
Food Science
Kasetsart University
2006
Cultural Studies
Rajabhat Songkla University
2007
Eastern Languages and Cultures
University of Saint Petersburg (Russia)
[edit] Title and ranks
Styles ofQueen 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"). 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 gave an honor to the queen by commemorating Mother's Day as an annual holiday, celebrated on August 12 (the queen's birthday) annually.
[edit] Ancestry
Ancestors of Her Majesty the Queen Regent Sirikit of Thailand
Queen Sirikit
Father:Prince Nakkhratra Mangkala Kitiyakara, Prince of Chunthaburi II
Paternal Grandfather:Prince Kitiyakara Voralaksana, Prince of Chunthaburi I
Paternal Great-grandfather:Chulalongkorn, Rama V of Siam
Paternal Great-grandmother:Chao Chom Manda Uam
Paternal Grandmother:Princess Absornsamarn Devakul
Paternal Great-grandfather:Prince Devan Uthayawongse, the Prince Dhevawongse Varopakarn
Paternal Great-grandmother:Mom Yai (Sucharitkul) Devakul
Mother:Mom Luang Bua Snidwongse
Maternal Grandfather:Lord Vongsanuprabhandu(Mom Rajawongse Sadan Snidwongse)
Maternal Great-grandfather:Prince Sai Snidwongse
Maternal Great-grandmother:Mom Kian Snidwongse na Ayudhya
Maternal Grandmother:Dame Vanidabicharini(Bang Snidwongse na Ayudhya)
Maternal Great-grandfather:Lord Rajapakdi (Ko Sucharitkul)
Maternal Great-grandmother:unknown
[edit] References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Queen Sirikit of Thailand
^ Kylie Morris. (2004, 16 November). Thai Queen's plea to end violence. BBC News. [Online]. Available: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4017485.stm. (Accessed: 7 July 2008).
^ BBC News. (2001, 23 November). [Online]. Thailand's Suriyothai beats Titanic. Available: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1672246.stm. (Accessed: 7 July 2008).
Sirikit
Chakri DynastyBorn: 12 August 1932
Regnal titles
Preceded byRamphaiphanni
Queen Consort of Thailand1951 – present
Incumbent
[hide]
v • d • eQueens and Consorts of the Chakri Dynasty
First Reign
Amarindra

Second Reign
Sri Suriyendra • Sri Sulalai
Fourth Reign
Soamanas Vadhanavadi • Debsirindra • Pannarai
Fifth Reign
Sunandha Kumariratana • Sukhumala Marasri • Savang Vadhana • Saovabha Bongsri
Sixth Reign
Laksamilawan • Sucharit Suda • Indrasakdi Sachi • Suvadhana
Seventh Reign
Rambhai Barni