Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother, the king's oldest daughter, passed away at the age of 47, according to an announcement from the royal palace on Friday, over three years after she fell into a coma due to an unexpected illness.
She had an abdominal infection and "her health kept deteriorating" until she "died calmly" on Thursday night, according to a statement released by the Royal Household Bureau.
The late princess will remain in state at the Grand Palace in Bangkok, with her funeral scheduled "to take place with the greatest honors as per royal custom," it stated.
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Also known as "Princess Bha" in Thailand, she was the sole daughter of King Maha Vajiralongkorn His first wife has been hospitalized since she fell seriously ill unexpectedly in December 2022.
The Office of the Royal Family stated in May that her health status was deteriorated and she depended on medical equipment to assist with her lung and kidney activities, along with drugs.
Bajrakitiyabha was the sole offspring from King Vajiralongkorn's union with Princess Soamsawali.
A qualified lawyer and statesman, Bajrakitiyabha received her education in the UK, Thailand, and the US, obtaining a legal qualification from Cornell University and briefly representing Thailand as its envoy to Austria.
During a 2012 trip to a U.S. law school, the princess shared details of her career with an university crowd. "I often wonder, what do I really do? Am I a prosecutor? A defense attorney? A negotiator? The truth is, I'm all these things combined. I call myself a blend," she mentioned, as reported by the Cornell Chronicle.
She occupied various roles within the United Nations and emerged as a supporter of gender equality, particularly focusing on enhancing the treatment of female inmates.
"Everyone across the kingdom adored her, held her in high regard, and looked up to her. She was compassionate, gifted, and known for her outstanding behavior," said the Prime Minister. Anutin Charnvirakul mentioned during a television speech on Friday.
She devoted her life to advocating for justice, equality, respect for humanity, and individual rights within society. I call upon every person from Thailand to participate in honoring her death and to emulate her as a role model in dedicating themselves to the monarch and the kingdom.
As a princess, Bajrakitiyabha played a significant symbolic position within Thai culture, with the monarchy occupying the highest status.
She was regarded as very close to her father and was assigned to a high-ranking position within his security team one year prior to her hospitalization.
A ceremonial convoy transporting her remains is set to depart from the hospital on Saturday afternoon heading to the Grand Palace in Bangkok, where customary royal ceremonies will take place at the Piman Rattaya Hall.
The authorities have encouraged citizens to show their respect and accumulate good deeds, with governmental structures lowering banners to half-staff for a period of fifteen days.
"It makes me extremely sorrowful, as she contributed greatly to the Thai population," said Namooy Jaengklaykom, a 53-year-old seamster, outside the royal residence.
"It happened too soon."
People assembled on Friday to honor their condolences at Chulalongkorn Hospital, where Bajrakitiyabha was undergoing medical care, with several holding photographs of the departed princess.
"I felt extremely upset when I heard the news," stated Thanyaporn Arammekha, a retired woman aged 66, her eyes red and puffy from weeping.
"I am fond of the monarchy because my parents separated when I was still very young. King Rama IX served as a paternal figure for me," she mentioned, speaking about the previous monarch.
She mentioned that she had frequently gone to the hospital during the princess's therapy period and immediately went there upon hearing the news.
Kanokpan Chantarapetch, 67, a former local government employee, also arrived to show her condolences.
"I truly can't talk. I'm too emotional," she said, crying.
She has always been dear to me since she was a child," she stated, noting that "having worked in the government before, I am aware of all the contributions the royal family has made to the nation.
Queen Sirikit The queen mother passed away in October at the age of 93.
A 73-year-old monarch, with seven offspring from four different marriages, has yet to reveal his preferred successor, even though the inheritance laws prioritize male descendants.
Stringent regulations dictate what may and may not be expressed regarding the Thai monarchy, which is shielded from negative commentary under lese-majesty laws that impose imprisonment for up to 15 years per offense.
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