BANGKOK: Thailand's former Queen Sirikit has died at the age of 93. She was the wife of King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand from 1946 until his death in October 2016. The current King Maha Vajiralongkorn is their son. Since 1976, Sirikit's birthday, August 12, has been celebrated as Mother's Day in Thailand. It is also a national holiday.

Sirikit, who disappeared from public view after suffering a stroke in 2012, has been in hospital since 2019. Her health deteriorated on the 17th of this month after she developed a blood infection. A representative of the Thai royal family announced that she died on Friday night. The royal family has declared a one-year mourning period. Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charanvirakul announced that he would not attend the ASEAN summit starting in Kuala Lumpur,

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