{"version":"https:\/\/jsonfeed.org\/version\/1","title":"A Tribute to Queen Sirikit","home_page_url":"https:\/\/thailand.prd.go.th","feed_url":"https:\/\/thailand.prd.go.th\/en\/content\/category\/index\/id\/3324","items":[{"id":"f07d00f93c393213f7372750c628adf9","title":"Sirikit Oilfield as Major Crude Oil Source in Thailand","content_text":"<p><strong>The world is facing a major global energy crisis because of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, which have created the largest supply disruption in the history of the global oil market. Thailand is known as a net importer of oil, relying on foreign sources for its crude oil to meet high consumption. Not many people are aware that the country is actually also an oil producer. The first oilfield to be discovered in Thailand is Sirikit Oilfield in Lan Krabue District, Kamphaeng Phet Province, in the lower North.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>The Sirikit Oilfield was discovered in 1981 by the then concession owner, Thai Shell Exploration and Production Company, Ltd. Production from the oilfield started in December 1982 from the exploration well &ldquo;Lan Krabue A01.&rdquo; It was the first time in Thailand&rsquo;s history that onshore crude oil was produced for commercial purposes. To this day, the Sirikit Oilfield remains the country&rsquo;s largest onshore oilfield.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>The discovery of the oilfield in Lan Krabue was considered significant, especially for the energy sector in Thailand. At that time, Her Majesty Queen Sirikit celebrated her 50th birthday anniversary. In honor of Her Majesty on this auspicious occasion, the then Prime Minister General Prem Tinsulanonda requested the permission of Her Majesty to name the oilfield &ldquo;Sirikit Oilfield.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>On 12 January 1983, Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother graciously presided over the opening ceremony of the oilfield, upon which the &ldquo;Sirikit Oilfield&rdquo; name was bestowed by Her Majesty. Crude oil from this source is called &ldquo;Phet Crude Oil,&rdquo; named after Kamphaeng Phet Province.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>In October 1985, PTT Exploration and Production Public Co., Ltd. (PTTEP) entered into a joint venture with Thai Shell for this onshore concession block with a 25% shareholding, while Thai Shell held the remaining 75%. In January 2004, with the acquisition of Thai Shell&rsquo;s shares, PTTEP became the operator of the Sirikit Oilfield.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>Today, the oilfield covers an area of 1,326 square kilometers across three provinces, namely Kamphaeng Phet, Phitsanulok, and Sukhothai. Throughout more than four decades, the Sirikit Oilfield has served as a major domestic crude oil source, contributing to Thailand&#39;s energy security and helping reduce imports. It is also regarded as the foundation for energy on Thai soil.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n","url":"https:\/\/thailand.prd.go.th\/en\/content\/category\/detail\/id\/3324\/iid\/491792","date_published":"2026-04-04T22:07:00","image":"https:\/\/thailand.prd.go.th\/en\/file\/get\/file\/20260405c7617c32c94e9fb6e66269a68eed6f19051709.jpeg"},{"id":"b11f8d9618c1c2677ef8837f06c7d8b3","title":"Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden: Pursuing the Royal Initiative of Biodiversity Protection","content_text":"<p><strong>There are many botanic gardens in different parts of Thailand where people can appreciate and study nature, especially plant varieties. But the most famous one is Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden, in the northern province of Chiang Mai.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>Situated on a forest area of 2,600 acres (6,500 <em>rai<\/em>) on the edge of Doi Suthep &ndash; Pui National Park in Mae Rim District, Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden, formerly called &ldquo;Mae Sa Botanic Garden,&rdquo; was established in 1993 under the Botanical Garden Organization, Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office. This organization was set up in 1992, coinciding with the 60th birthday celebrations of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>In 1994, the Botanical Garden Organization received a great honor from Her Majesty Queen Sirikit when she granted royal permission to name this garden after Her Majesty. Later, the Botanical Garden Organization, which supervised Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden, was transferred to be under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden is designed to meet world-class standards in rendering services concerning biodiversity and environmental conservation. Another objective is to provide a recreational place for the public to enjoy and learn more about their &ldquo;green heritage.&rdquo;<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>Recognized as the oldest and foremost botanical garden in Thailand,&nbsp;Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden comprises modern layouts and facilities. For instance, in the glasshouse complex, visitors may enjoy displays of plants from tropical rainforests. Computerized temperature control ensures that all plants thrive in a suitable environment. Conservation projects also include work with endangered native Thai orchids and palms. The garden has an integrated program of research and education, aimed at putting its work in a global perspective, as well.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>The operations of Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden are pursuing the royal initiative of biodiversity protection by Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother. The Cabinet on 9 November 2010 approved the proposal by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to present the title &ldquo;Mother of Biodiversity Protection&rdquo; to Her Majesty, following the declaration of 2010 the International Year of Biodiversity by the United Nations.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>Many scientific institutions, botanical gardens, and natural history museums bestowed Her Majesty the Queen Mother&rsquo;s royal name upon newly discovered species of plants and animals to honor Her Majesty, who was long a pioneering figure in contributing to the conservation of Thailand&rsquo;s biodiversity.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n","url":"https:\/\/thailand.prd.go.th\/en\/content\/category\/detail\/id\/3324\/iid\/489486","date_published":"2026-03-28T18:39:00","image":"https:\/\/thailand.prd.go.th\/en\/file\/get\/file\/20260328521a09ba1b614857cae0fa79b8a679fd190652.jpeg"},{"id":"fc6835beb5d82177fdfc4ba8f9b0de63","title":"Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Chairs Meeting of the National Commission on the Royal Cremation of the Queen Mother","content_text":"<p><strong>Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn on 21 March 2026 chaired a meeting of the National Commission on the Royal Cremation of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother at the Santi Maitri Building, Government House.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>The Government was granted royal permission to organize the Royal Cremation of the Queen Mother, and Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn graciously accepted to serve as advisor for the Royal Cremation Ceremony.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>The Princess was invited by the Government to chair the meeting of the national commission and give advice on the ceremony, to be carried out in accordance with royal traditions and with the highest honors accorded to the Queen Mother.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>Before the meeting, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, in his capacity as Chairperson of the National Commission on the Royal Cremation of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother, humbly asked Her Royal Highness to stand with other participants in the meeting to observe a one-minute period of silence in remembrance of the late Queen Sirikit.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>Permanent Secretary of the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office Yupha Taweewattanakitborvon gave a report on progress of operations by relevant agencies, namely (1) Committee on the Construction of the Royal Crematorium and Supplementary Structures and the Renovation of Royal Chariots and Palanquins, (2) Committee on the Arrangements of the Royal Procession of Honor, (3) Committee on Ceremonies, (4) Committee on Public Relations, (5) Committee on Safety and Traffic, (6) Committee on Documentation and Historical Records, (7) Committee on Budget Request Screening, and (8) Coordination Center for the Organizing of the Royal Cremation Ceremony.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>The meeting also asked for royal advice on an exhibition, to be held after the Royal Cremation Ceremony at the Royal Merit-Making Pavilion (Phra Thinang Song Tham) in the Sanam Luang ceremonial ground. The one-month exhibition will feature the life story&nbsp;and work of the Queen Mother, royally initiated projects, construction of the Royal Crematorium and supplementary structures, and the renovation of royal chariots and palanquins for use in the Royal Cremation Ceremony.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>Moreover, the Princess was also asked to consider the Government&rsquo;s project to produce commemorative pins for the Royal Cremation Ceremony in remembrance of the immeasurable royal benevolence of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n","url":"https:\/\/thailand.prd.go.th\/en\/content\/category\/detail\/id\/3324\/iid\/487441","date_published":"2026-03-22T13:09:00","image":"https:\/\/thailand.prd.go.th\/en\/file\/get\/file\/20260322d4e2b27f23cc3e41b8181f908825b89b133459.jpeg"},{"id":"e92173d6a233c5e07f60270ffbd9c248","title":"Royal Peacock Logo: Certification Trademark of Thai Silk Standards Granted by Queen Sirikit ","content_text":"<p><strong>Recognized as &quot;Mother of Thai Silk,&quot; Her Majesty the late Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother, played a vital role in developing Thai silk and making it known throughout the world. In order to protect the authenticity, quality, and traditional craftsmanship of Thai silk products, Her Majesty granted the &ldquo;Royal Peacock Logo&rdquo; as a certification trademark for Thai silk standards, while safeguarding the reputation of the local industry and local wisdom.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>In 2002, substandard silk thread and synthetic fibers were imported to produce fabric, which was still called &ldquo;Thai silk&rdquo; by a number of manufacturers. This led to a decline in the quality of silk, resulting in the product being considered unreliable among both local and foreign buyers.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>Aware of this problem, Her Majesty Queen Sirikit asked relevant agencies to rectify the situation by establishing a strict quality control program for Thai silk. The program aimed to protect the health, safety, and well-being of silk producers, as well. Her Majesty also granted the royal peacock logo, which is divided into four types, as follows:<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>1. Gold Peacock (Royal Thai Silk): Premium quality handwoven, using traditional silk threads and processes;<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>2. Silver Peacock (Classic Thai Silk): Classic quality, handwoven with high-quality silk;<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>3. Blue Peacock (Thai Silk): Traditional handwoven silk, allowing some modern production processes;<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>4. Green Peacock (Thai Silk Blend): Thai silk that uses high-quality raw materials but may use mixed chemical materials or varied weaving techniques.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>The four colors of the royal peacock logo represent different materials and process of silk production. The use of these types depends on different conditions. However, the most important condition is that Thai silk of these types must be produced in Thailand only and be environment-friendly.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>The Permanent Secretary of the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office sought registration of the royal peacock trademark for Thai silk with&nbsp;the Department of Intellectual Property, Ministry of Commerce, on 16 February 2004. Later, the registration was transferred to the Queen Sirikit Department of Sericulture, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, on 30 June 2010.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>The &ldquo;Thai Silk&rdquo; trademark of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit has also been registered in 35 economies to ensure international protection. Out of this number, 27 are European Union countries and eight others include the United States, China, Hong Kong, India, Norway, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Singapore.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n","url":"https:\/\/thailand.prd.go.th\/en\/content\/category\/detail\/id\/3324\/iid\/487370","date_published":"2026-03-21T21:02:00","image":"https:\/\/thailand.prd.go.th\/en\/file\/get\/file\/202603225680c0fefe674ff171ea5d79ab9bd9be070827.jpeg"},{"id":"f5570bb576e0fb212f2c21c4b1cea131","title":"Royal Initiative of Queen Sirikit on Brain Bank","content_text":"<p><strong>Many senior citizens can still work actively and contribute greatly to society. They have much experience and may constitute a wealth of knowledge and experience from which younger generations can learn and benefit.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>Aware of the importance of older persons, Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother stated that Thailand should promote and support skillful older persons after their retirement, so that they would have the opportunity to bring out their knowledge, expertise, and experience to contribute to national development.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>In her speech delivered to well-wishers on 11 August 2000, the eve of her 68th birthday anniversary, Her Majesty Queen Sirikit said, <em>&ldquo;Although it is an appropriate time for those who reach 60 years old to open up the opportunity for the younger generation to perform their duties, older persons may still provide support and protection for the country. Those in both the public and private sectors may gather in the form of a &lsquo;Brain Bank,&rsquo; with no intention to receive a salary from the government.&rdquo;<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>Her Majesty&rsquo;s speech led to the establishment of the Brain Bank as a center for the gathering of retired resource persons of all professions from both the public and private sectors. These knowledgeable and highly experienced people are regarded as volunteers from the Brain Bank to give advice to various agencies, organizations, and communities, without personal financial gain.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>In response to Her Majesty&rsquo;s wishes, the Cabinet on 15 August 2000 assigned the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council to serve as the central registration unit for the Brain Bank, responsible for collecting information, compiling a list of retired experts in various fields, and coordinating various networks, so that these volunteer retired experts would be able to work for national development. The operations of the Brain Bank are intended to bring better living conditions and happiness to the people and create economic stability for the further development of the country.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>The Brain Bank is supervised by the Pattanathai Foundation, which was established by the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council. There are currently about 2,700 volunteers who gather in all 77 provinces across the country and work to empower their communities.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>Thanks to the royal initiative of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, the Brain Bank has played a role in helping tackle the country&rsquo;s problems, while providing opportunities for senior citizens to share their experience with younger generations and for people of different ages to live happily together.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n","url":"https:\/\/thailand.prd.go.th\/en\/content\/category\/detail\/id\/3324\/iid\/483313","date_published":"2026-03-09T07:46:00","image":"https:\/\/thailand.prd.go.th\/en\/file\/get\/file\/20260309b98ebc63791b5fbd5c135df237f3ef79094401.jpeg"},{"id":"2b24afdf631cf114661362f3802e581d","title":"Her Majesty Queen Sirikit: Savior of Native Thai Orchids","content_text":"<p><strong>The beauty of orchids is a natural wonder. Thailand has an abundance of exotic orchids, though some species are rarely seen now. Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother supported the conservation and breeding of rare native orchids. Thanks to Her Majesty, efforts have been made to bring them back from the verge of extinction.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>In January 1992, the Fourth Asia Pacific Orchid Conference (APOC 4) was held in the northern province of Chiang Mai. It marked the first time Thailand hosted this event, bringing together international orchid enthusiasts, researchers, and hobbyists to exchange knowledge on orchid development, biotechnology, and conservation.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>Professor Rapee Sagarik, a renowned Thai orchid expert, was one of the founding members of APOC. Maejo University took the main responsibility of hosting this event, which was also meant to celebrate the 60th birthday anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>While viewing the exhibits after presiding over the opening ceremony at Maejo University on 22 January 1992, Her Majesty spoke with Professor Rapee, the president of Maejo University, and the commander of the Third Army Area, who was accompanying her, expressing her concern about the dwindling wild orchids in Thailand.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>Her Majesty said, <em>&ldquo;Thai native orchids are very beautiful and fragrant. They are becoming rare and are facing extinction. We should join hands in finding ways to conserve them and to propagate them in sufficient quantities to return them to the wild.&rdquo;<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>In response to Her Majesty&rsquo;s wishes, the Royal Thai Army, the Royal Forest Department, and Maejo University worked together with the private sector in launching the project &ldquo;Reintroduction of Native Thai Orchids to the Forest at the Royal Initiative.&rdquo; Maejo University serves as the center in propagating native orchids and conserving them as national heritage.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>The project has so far reintroduced more than 500,000 orchids, covering 25 genera and 60 species, into natural habitats. It also led to several other projects dedicated to Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, such as Lady&#39;s Slipper Orchid Conservation, Propagation and Conservation of Rare Thai Orchids, and Rhynchostylis Gigantea Propagation.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>The largest repository of native orchid species in Thailand is the Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden in Mae Rim District, Chiang Mai Province. It offers suitable conditions for growing native Thai orchid species and for contributing to the conservation of these species.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>Realizing that, without conservation, native Thai orchids could have been lost forever, Her Majesty Queen Sirikit called on various relevant agencies to help protect native orchids on a continual basis in order to preserve Thailand&rsquo;s biodiversity and natural heritage.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n","url":"https:\/\/thailand.prd.go.th\/en\/content\/category\/detail\/id\/3324\/iid\/479381","date_published":"2026-02-24T12:20:00","image":"https:\/\/thailand.prd.go.th\/en\/file\/get\/file\/20260224dcd227c119287c4ae7a027357e065fbf125031.jpg"},{"id":"cbff30edeb145a64004ad230305843af","title":"Her Majesty Queen Sirikit: Pre-eminent Protector of Arts and Crafts","content_text":"<p><strong>Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother played a significant role in revitalizing traditional arts and crafts. Her keen aesthetic sense and observant eyes serve her well in the sizing up of local crafts and in selecting feasible projects to be promoted in different areas of Thailand. Because&nbsp;she breathed new life into Thai arts and crafts through her tireless efforts, Her Majesty was presented with the title of the &ldquo;Pre-eminent Protector of Arts and Crafts&rdquo; in 2012.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>In her speech to an audience and well-wishers on the eve of the royal birthday anniversary on 11 August 1979, Her Majesty Queen Sirikit said, <em>&ldquo;I have always been proud of the fact that every Thai has the blood of craftsmen in them, whether they are farmers or orchard workers, wherever they may be. They have keen sense and are perceptive to all aspects of arts and crafts. They just need to have a chance to learn and train, and their skills will soon be apparent.&rdquo;<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>In another speech on the eve of the royal birthday anniversary on 11 August 1988, Her Majesty said that she had opportunities to visit the people across the country, when she accompanied King Rama IX to every area. Her Majesty then found that Thai people have great artistic skills, despite their distance from the progress of the capital.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>She also commended them for their roles in sustaining the inheritance of Thai arts for their own country. She could tell that even those who never had knowledge about handicrafts before also had&nbsp;a deep, innate connection to the arts. After a short period of learning about handicraft-making, they would be able to create beautiful crafts.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>The Foundation for the Promotion of Supplementary Occupations and Related Techniques (SUPPORT Foundation), established by Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, has trained hundreds of thousands of villagers in all aspects of traditional Thai arts and crafts. It has also revived some items of cultural heritage that might have been lost.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>In recognition of Her Majesty&rsquo;s great contributions toward preserving, promoting, reviving, developing, and protecting folk arts and crafts as Thailand&rsquo;s cultural heritage, the Ministry of Culture presented Her Majesty with the&nbsp;title of the Pre-eminent Protector of Arts and Crafts, stating that Her Majesty&rsquo;s contributions to arts and crafts were&nbsp;evident and recognized in both Thailand and overseas.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>The Cabinet, during its meeting on 21 August 2012, acknowledged the announcement on the presentation of this title in honor of Her Majesty on the occasion of her 80th birthday anniversary, 12 August 2012. The announcement was published in the Royal Gazette on 1 September 2012.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n","url":"https:\/\/thailand.prd.go.th\/en\/content\/category\/detail\/id\/3324\/iid\/476503","date_published":"2026-02-15T21:55:00","image":"https:\/\/thailand.prd.go.th\/en\/file\/get\/file\/2026021597b9d121bbcd520819e01354968ab458224439.jpeg"},{"id":"5ca37bea55bd7c14d575bad985af98d5","title":"The Queen Mother\u2019s Support to the Cause of Thai Women","content_text":"<p><strong>Thai women have played vital roles throughout the history of the Kingdom. Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother endeavored in every way to elevate the status of women through various programs, as well as educating and training them, so that they would improve their prospects in life.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>As proposed jointly by the Ministry of Interior, the National Council of Women of Thailand, and women&rsquo;s groups across the country, the Cabinet on 29 July 2003, acknowledged the designation of 1 August each year Thai Women&rsquo;s Day. The reason is that 1 August usually marks the start of activities carried out to celebrate Her Majesty Queen Sirikit&rsquo;s birthday, 12 August. Her Majesty was then asked to grant permission for the observance of Thai Women&rsquo;s Day to be in her honor on this special occasion.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>Later, in 2008, Her Majesty also granted permission for the use of the Cattleya &ldquo;Queen Sirikit&rdquo; orchid as the symbol for Thai Women&rsquo;s Day. A crossbred cattleya, which is well known and loved among orchid lovers, this variety of orchid yields long white blossoms with yellow lips. It is one of the flowers bearing the royal name &ldquo;Queen Sirikit&rdquo; of Thailand, by Her Majesty&rsquo;s royal consent.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>Recognized as Mother of the Land, Her Majesty&rsquo;s birthday is observed as National Mother&rsquo;s Day. The National Council on Social Welfare of Thailand proposed in 1976 the designation of Her Majesty&rsquo;s birthday National Mother&rsquo;s Day, and the Cabinet approved the proposal.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>Her Majesty Queen Sirikit gave immense support to the cause of Thai women. While King Rama IX worked to improve the lot of poor farmers, Her Majesty worked to improve the lot of women. For instance, she sponsored programs and organizations providing educational and training opportunities to enable women to improve their economic and social welfare.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>In Thailand, a large number of women are farmers, either working alone or side-by-side with their male counterparts. Very often the returns for their labor provide them with only a subsistence income. Her Majesty Queen Sirikit introduced supplementary occupations for Thai women to earn extra income through the Foundation for the Promotion of Supplementary Occupations and Related Techniques, or the SUPPORT Foundation.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>In so doing, Her Majesty not only provided them with opportunities to earn more income, but also gave them pride in their fine craftsmanship in arts and crafts.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n","url":"https:\/\/thailand.prd.go.th\/en\/content\/category\/detail\/id\/3324\/iid\/476399","date_published":"2026-02-14T22:24:00","image":"https:\/\/thailand.prd.go.th\/en\/file\/get\/file\/20260214121affa8cdc7ea9f17240e5d40cadea8231850.jpeg"},{"id":"957f7138e01fe1e6f0b44da40ff535b9","title":"H.M. Queen Sirikit Presented with the Title of the Mother and Teacher of the Land","content_text":"<p><strong>Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother was presented with the title of the &ldquo;Mother and Teacher of the Land,&rdquo; following a proposal by the Ministry of Education, which was endorsed by the Cabinet during its meeting on 7 May 2013.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>The presentation of the title was meant to honor Her Majesty in commemoration of her 80th birthday anniversary, 12 August 2012. The Cabinet also appointed a committee to screen relevant documents to seek royal permission for the presentation.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>The Ministry of Education stated in its proposal that Her Majesty Queen Sirikit always stood by the side of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great, working actively and tirelessly to share royal missions and activities and improve the life of the people.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>Concerning education, Her Majesty was aware of the need to eliminate illiteracy and reduce social disadvantages. The Queen believed that education was necessary for human, social, and national development. Her Majesty contributed to Thailand&rsquo;s education in many ways. For instance, she granted scholarships for needy students and disadvantaged youths.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>The Queen accepted many educational institutions and foundations under her royal patronage. She also provided support for the setting up and expansion of schools in remote areas. Her contribution to education was evident and recognized in both Thailand and abroad.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>Her Majesty Queen Sirikit was the model teacher for the royal children, who have followed in her footsteps in providing people with education support. Apart from promoting education, Her Majesty sometimes taught local villagers herself, when she accompanied King Bhumibol on his visits to the people in remote areas. She played a vital role in non-formal education without discrimination, as well.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>Her Majesty devoted her time and energy to caring for the four royal children during their younger days. As the royal children approached adulthood, Her Majesty found more time to involve herself in many areas of public life, especially concerning public welfare and the plight of the poor and the underprivileged.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>Devoted to her people as a mother was to her children, Her Majesty the Queen traveled to remote corners of the country to be close to her people. She provided them with knowledge and job opportunities, as shown in her initiative in establishing the Foundation for the Promotion of Supplementary Occupations and Related Techniques, or SUPPORT Foundation.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>Since she became Queen of Thailand, millions of children and mothers in Thailand benefited from basic services, such as education health care, and income generation.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\r\n","url":"https:\/\/thailand.prd.go.th\/en\/content\/category\/detail\/id\/3324\/iid\/473887","date_published":"2026-02-06T21:14:00","image":"https:\/\/thailand.prd.go.th\/en\/file\/get\/file\/20260206e57d5c8891151250655f7a4d1dbb2810213648.jpeg"},{"id":"8c2f0c0aadc466b80b0d248ceb44aa64","title":"Wide Access to Information about the Royal Cremation of the Queen Mother","content_text":"<p><strong>The Government is stepping up public relations campaigns to provide people both in Thailand and abroad with wide access to information about the Royal Cremation Ceremony for Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>Minister Attached to the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office Supamas Isarabhakdi on 5 February 2026 chaired a meeting of the Committee on Public Relations for the Royal Cremation of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother at Government House to work out a roadmap to ensure accurate and complete information,&nbsp;befitting the late Queen Mother&#39;s renown as the Mother of the Nation.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>Participating in the meeting were Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Prime Minister&#39;s Office Chuencheewan Limteerakul, Director-General of the Government Public Relations Department (PRD) Sudruetai Lertkasem, and representatives from relevant agencies.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>Minister Supamas, who is the Chairperson of the Committee on Public Relations for the Royal Cremation of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother, stressed the importance of the ceremony, saying that the public relations work is not only to provide information; it is also to convey the immeasurable benevolence of the Queen Mother and showcase the magnificence of Thai arts and culture to the world at large.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>She stated that the committee would work closely with all sectors, so that people in the country and the global community would receive comprehensive details regarding the Queen Mother and the Royal Cremation Ceremony.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>The committee is preparing to launch a digital information hub at queensirikit.go.th to provide information about the royal biography of the Queen Mother, Her Majesty&rsquo;s duties and projects, and the Royal Cremation Ceremony. Currently, information in English is available at the website thailand.prd.go.th, operated by the PRD Foreign Affairs Office.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>In addition, the Main Press Center (MPC) and the International Broadcast Center (IBC) will be established to facilitate the operations of both Thai and international media. The Media Guide in Thai and English will also be published for distribution to members of the media during their coverage of the Royal Cremation Ceremony.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n","url":"https:\/\/thailand.prd.go.th\/en\/content\/category\/detail\/id\/3324\/iid\/473479","date_published":"2026-02-05T20:47:00","image":"https:\/\/thailand.prd.go.th\/en\/file\/get\/file\/202602051e7256e6459ccae73feb426c4af4ef77211529.jpeg"}]}