UAE leaders offer condolences to Thai king on passing of his mother

President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan has sent a message of condolences to King Maha Vajiralongkorn of Thailand on the passing of his mother, Queen Sirikit.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court, dispatched similar messages to the King of Thailand.

Queen Sirikit, the mother of the current King Vajiralongkorn and wife of the nation's longest-reigning monarch, died late on Friday at the age of 93, the palace said.

The Royal Household Bureau said she died in a hospital in Bangkok, adding that she began suffering from a blood infection on Oct.17 and despite her medical team's efforts, her condition did not improve.

She suffered a stroke in 2012 and was afterwards largely absent from public life due to declining health.

Her husband, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, died in October 2016. The bureau's statement said King Maha Vajiralongkorn had directed that she be be given a funeral with the highest honors, and that he had instructed members of the royal family and royal servants to observe mourning for one year.

Mourners gathered outside Chulalongkorn Hospital on Saturday morning after hearing the news.

"It a great loss to the nation," said Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on Saturday, adding that he would delay his departure to a weekend summit of Southeast Asian leaders in Malaysia.

WAM / Agencies