A farewell ceremony for Queen Mother Sirikit was held in Thailand.

Thailand has declared a year of mourning for Queen Mother Sirikit, and tourists are being urged to abandon parties with loud music, as well as choose black or muted colors for visiting museums and royal residences.

"Thailand is mourning the passing of the queen. National flags will be flown at half-mast for a month. Civil servants will mourn for a whole year, ordinary citizens — less. But you can't buy black clothes in stores anymore since the official announcement of Sirikit's death," notes Izvestia correspondent Viktor Sineok.

The royal Guards kneel before the funeral procession, thousands of civilians on the streets of Bangkok make a high "wai" as a sign of maximum respect, often do not hold back tears, the journalist added.

"When I heard that she was gone, the world seemed to freeze and memories of everything that Her Majesty had done for us flashed before my eyes!" said Bangkok resident Maninat Laowalert.

People started saying goodbye right away. For the streams of those who came to pray at the hospital, where she was gone, special traffic controllers were even sent. For Thais, the death of the mother of the reigning monarch is a personal loss.

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The death of Queen Sirikit became known on October 25. She was suffering from a bloodstream infection. The Queen has been in the hospital under the supervision of specialists since September 2019.

In 2007, Queen Sirikit visited Russia on the occasion of the 110th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations with Thailand. Then she was received in the Kremlin by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Thanks to Sirikit's efforts, Thai women were able to earn money on their own through manual labor through a special support fund. She has made a significant contribution to the fact that Thai silk has become one of the most recognizable brands in the country.

Sirikit was born on August 12, 1932, and is revered in Thailand for her leadership skills. When her husband King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX) became a monk in 1956, she officially became Queen Regent. Rama X is her only son, he has three sisters. Since 1976, Thailand has celebrated Mother's Day on her birthday.

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