Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn presided over the opening of the exhibition “Chud Thai Dressing the Nation in Heritage” at the Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles in the Grand Palace on 15 August 2025.

The exhibition has been organized in honor of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother for Her Majesty’s lifelong dedication in the preservation and promotion of traditional Thai costumes. It also aims to publicize the knowledge on and the history of royal-inspired Thai costumes, referred to as “Chud Thai Phra Ratchaniyom” to the public and visitors, as well as promoting the public awareness and appreciation of Thai cultural heritage, and inspiring the continuation and safeguarding of this treasured aspect of the Thai culture for generations to come.

At the opening ceremony, members of the diplomatic corps and a representative of UNESCO in Thailand, were granted a royal audience with Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn and Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana Rajakanya.

On this occasion, Princess Sirivannavari, who serves as Chairperson of the Advisory Board of the Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles, graciously led members of the diplomatic corps and the representative of UNESCO on a tour of the exhibition. This would foster greater international awareness in support of Thailand’s nomination of “Chud Thai: The Knowledge, Craftsmanship and Practices of the Thai National Costume” to be inscribed on the UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The nomination is scheduled for consideration in 2026.

Chud Thai demonstrates fine craftsmanship, beautiful designs, and distinctive weaving techniques. The Queen Mother played an important role in developing Chud Thai in 1960, when she began to establish national costumes for Thai ladies. With the development, eight styles of Thai costumes for ladies came into being for use on various occasions.

The Chud Thai Dressing the Nation in Heritage exhibition is now open to the public daily from 16 August onward, between 09.00 hr and 16.30 hr.