Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s mother has died! •The body of Queen Sirikit will be kept in state until the end of the Thai king’s birthday celebrations next Monday. •This is according to a post by Andrew MacGregor Marshall, a Reuters journalist and Scottish professor close to the Siamese royal family.

What Andrew MacGregor Marshall Claimed

• In a Thai-language post on Facebook, Marshall wrote (translated):
  “Sirikit Kitiyakara, mother of Vajiralongkorn, has died. She’ll be kept artificially undead until some time after Vajiralongkorn’s birthday on Monday.” Wikipedia+3EAC News+3X (formerly Twitter)+3.

• He added: “We can expect ultranationalist madness to get even worse.” EAC News.

• Marshall is known for his critical and often controversial reporting on the Thai royal family Wikipedia+15Wikipedia+15EAC News+15.

⚠️ What We Do and Don’t Know

✔️ Known

• No official statement has been released by the Thai Royal Household confirming the Queen Mother’s death.

• No reputable news outlet has independently reported her death.

• If true, Marshall’s account would mark a significant moment in the monarchy—but it remains speculative.

❓ Unknown

• Whether Queen Sirikit is indeed deceased.

• If deceased, whether authorities are delaying the announcement as Marshall alleges.

• The motivations behind such concealment, if it is happening.

️ Context: Thai Royal Funeral Traditions

If the Queen Mother Had Indeed Passed Away:

Royal funerals in Thailand follow deeply rooted traditions steeped in Buddhist, Hindu, and animist rituals and can span many months to over a year Secret Siam+8Wikipedia+8EAC News+8EAC NewsSecret Siam+7HeraldNet+7Wikipedia+7:

1. Immediate Rites: The body is bathed, dressed in ceremonial attire, and placed in a kot (royal urn or coffin). For some royals, like Queen Mother Srinagarindra, mortuary preferences included using a coffin placed behind an empty urn eScholarship+2Wikipedia+2Wikipedia+2.

2. Lying‑in‑State: Held in the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall (Grand Palace), with continuous Buddhist chants every three hours, instrumentals, and formal rites marking the 7th, 15th, 50th, and 100th days after death. Public attendance and veneration are common for extended periods (e.g. 100 days) eScholarship+3Wikipedia+3Wikipedia+3.

3. Public Procession & Royal Cremation: The body is conveyed via grand funeral carriages to the Sanam Luang royal field. A purpose-built Phra Meru (royal crematorium) is constructed, where cremation ceremonies are accompanied by theatrical performance, dance, music, and ritual over multiple days Wikipedia+2Khaosod English+2eScholarship+2.

4. Interment of Ashes: The ashes are respectfully collected and interred, often near other members of the royal family, such as in the Rangsi Vadhana Memorial at Wat Ratchabophit Wikipedia.

5. National Mourning and Ritual Performance: Thailand typically observes extended periods of official mourning—these ceremonies are highly choreographed, formally managed, and widely broadcast, shaped in part by lèse-majesté laws and the cultural weight of monarchy in Thai society WikiLeaks+2eScholarship+2asiasentinel.com+2.

Summary

• Andrew MacGregor Marshall’s claim is unverified; it must be regarded as a rumor unless corroborated by reliable sources.

• If Queen Mother Sirikit were to pass away, standard protocol would involve:

  • Formal bathing and preparing of the body

  • Extended lying-in-state

  • Grand public cremation and procession

  • Multi‑month stations of national mourning and ritual

Final Thoughts

Until any reputable media or official statement confirms the event, the claim remains conjecture. But if you’re seeking to understand what would likely happen—the elaborate, staged, and deeply symbolic tradition surrounding royal funerals in Thailand is well-documented and profoundly ingrained in national identity.

Would you like help monitoring emerging reports for verification, or a deeper dive into the symbolism and sequence of each funeral ritual stage?