Long Live The Queen
This year, Her Majesty the Queen Sirikit Kitiyakara celebrates her 83rd birthday. Born in Bangkok in 1932, HM The Queen has enjoyed a full and varied life, having moved to Europe when she was 13, and resided in many countries, including England, France and Switzerland. As the mother of three Princesses and one Prince – the heir to the throne – Queen Sirikit is revered by the Thai people and considered the Mother of the Nation.
On February 23, 1950, the National Culture Council issued a decree marking April 15, 1950 to be Thailand’s first annual National Mother’s Day, and from that year, April 15 was designated as the Kingdom’s Mother’s Day, and it was to be celebrated on this day, the final day of the three-day Thai New Year’s celebration, for 26 more years, until 1976 when the Royal Thai Government changed the day to HM Queen Sirkit’s Birthday, August 12, to honour the revered Mother of the Nation. To this day, August 12 is a day in Thailand for not only honouring and paying homage to HM The Queen’s motherly legacy, but to that of all our mothers who have endured labour, raised and nurtured us with love and dedication.