With her gentle kindness, compassion, and concern for the underprivileged and the poor, regardless of their faith, race, and creed, Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother was revered for her dedication to the well-being of the people.

During state visits abroad in the earlier years of the reign of King Rama IX, Her Majesty Queen Sirikit received awards in the Philippines, New Zealand, and Washington, D.C. for Her Majesty’s work with the Thai Red Cross Society.  She assumed the presidency of the Thai Red Cross Society in 1956.

Her Majesty’s humanitarian work was known and recognized far beyond the borders of Thailand. On 4 March 1980, Queen Sirikit received an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University “in recognition of her work for the rural poor in Thailand and her humanitarian work in her capacity as President of the Thai Red Cross.”

For her “extraordinary efforts” in helping Southeast Asian refugees, Her Majesty was presented with the first Distinguished Service Award of the Save the Children Foundation in March 1980. In the same year, Her Majesty also received the Asia Society’s Humanitarian Award in recognition of her untiring work for Thai people and the thousands of refugees who had fled to Thailand for safety. 

In May 1979, tens of thousands of refugees poured out of war-ravaged Cambodia seeking asylum along the Thai-Cambodian border, entering into Trat Province in eastern Thailand. Queen Sirikit rushed to Khao Lan in Trat to view the situation first-hand. Then, in her capacity as President of the Thai Red Cross Society, Her Majesty ordered the establishment of the Khao Lan Thai Red Cross Center to provide shelter, food, and medical care for the refugees. The center became their refuge for many years, until peace returned to Cambodia in 1991. 

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

Her Majesty’s assistance extended to everyone, regardless of his or her race or nationality, and she became endeared to the hearts of the people.