A brief overview of Her Majesty’s activities amply bears witness to Her dedication to the people and her determination to better their general welfare. Her achievements in this regard have been internationally recognized by various international organizations. For example, the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) asked for Royal permission to portray Her Majesty’s likeness on a Ceres Medal. Dr. Edouard Saouma, the Director of FAO said that such an honor is reserved only for great women, who, “By their lives and their work, have helped to uplift the status of women, especially in the rural areas.” The gold Ceres Medal was presented to Her Majesty at a ceremony held in the Chakri Throne Hall of the Grand Palace by the FAO Director on May 11, 1979.
On March 4, 1980 on the recommendation of the world-famous Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University of the United States of America awarded Her Majesty an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Humane Letters in recognition of Her work for the rural poor of Thailand and Her humanitarian work in her capacity as Chairwoman of the Thai Red Cross Society.
For Her Majesty’s many contributions to the conservation of the environment, natural resources and wildlife in all parts of Thailand, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of World Wildlife Fund presented to Her Majesty an award as an outstanding conserver of forests and wildlife on November 19, 1986.
Her Majesty the Queen inspects some Royal silk on display for Her to give Her approval. Her Majesty the Queen inspects some Royal silk on display for Her to give Her approval.
As we said about His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej that through selfless devotion to duty supported by great intelligence, His Majesty has won the affection of the Thai people and has given a profound meaning to the Thai Throne by making it “the personification of the Thai nationhood, the symbol of the Nation’s unity and independence, the invariable constant above the inconstancies of politics, indeed, as it is written to be, the repository of the sacred trust of the whole nation.”
By equal dedication, Her Majesty Queen Sirikit has blended Her role to the most correct and most effective degree to that of His Majesty. The Thai Monarchy is thereby embellished and humanized by the feminine touch. The Monarchy thus becomes even more meaningful and more completely personifies Thai nationhood with its balanced composition of men, women and children.