Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother was presented with numerous awards and honorary degrees by various universities and organizations in Thailand and abroad.

In Thailand, Her Majesty received 24 honorary degrees in several fields from 12 universities in recognition of her significant contributions to the nation.

The many awards and honorary degrees from foreign governments and international organizations acknowledged Her Majesty’s outstanding contributions to large numbers of people and her lifelong efforts to improve the lives of the less fortunate, refugees, children, women, and the environment. Among them are the following:

1. On 11 May 1979, Her Majesty was presented with the Ceres Gold Medal by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). This honor is reserved for women “who by their lives and their work, have helped to uplift the status of women, especially in the rural areas.” 

2. On 9 November 1981, Her Majesty Queen Sirikit was honored by the Federation for the Protection of Children in New York, on the occasion of its 50th anniversary, for her work in helping the disadvantaged, refugees, and disabled children. 

3. On 12 November 1981, Her Majesty was bestowed with “The First Thai Proof Coins in Series Commemorating the International Year of The Child-IYC” by the Secretary General of the United Nations. 

4. On 19 June 1981, Her Majesty received a commemorative coin for the International Children’s Year from UNICEF for her contributions to child welfare. 

5. On 14 March 1985, Her Majesty was presented with the Asia Association’s “Humanitarian Award” in recognition of her initiatives that elevated the status of Thai women in education, economic affairs, and the preservation of Thailand’s cultural heritage.

6. On 19 November 1986, Her Majesty was presented with a certificate proclaiming her “best conservationist” by the World Wildlife Fund for her work and support of the conservation of forests and wildlife.

7. On 1 May 1988, Her Majesty was awarded an Honorary Fellowship by the Royal College of Physicians of London in recognition of Her Majesty’s work and “deep concern for the health and welfare of the people of Thailand.”

8. On 29 March 1990, Her Majesty received the Immigration and Refugee Policy Award 1990 from the Center for Migration Studies (CMS) for her efforts in assisting approximately one million homeless refugees since 1975.

9. On 1 November 1991, Her Majesty was presented with the 1991 International Humanitarian Award from the Friends of the Capital Children’s Museum of Washington, D.C. This was the first international award to be given by the museum. (Previously, only national awards had been given).

10. On 30 January 1992, Her Majesty was the first person in the world to be awarded the UNESCO Borobudur Medal for her work in preserving Thai textiles. The award presentation took place during the opening ceremony of the “Asian Textile Heritage, Handicrafts and Industry” exhibition at Chiang Mai University.

11. On 2 August 1991, two United Nations organizations, UNICEF and UNIFEM, presented a medal and a special award to Her Majesty:

- UNICEF Special Recognition Award, a medal previously given only to the International Red Cross. Her Majesty was the first individual ever to receive this prestigious honor;

- UNIFEM Award of Excellence in recognition of Her Majesty’s unwavering support of Thai women’s roles in national development.

12. On 14 May 1993, Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., awarded Her Majesty an honorary doctorate in Humanities.

13. On 26 May 1993, Stanford University in the United States presented Her Majesty with the “Woman of the Year 1993” award in recognition of Her Majesty’s continuous dedication to the public good.