A thermal recording paper comprising a substrate (12) and a protective layer (20). The substrate includes a support layer (13) and a thermal layer (14) comprising a heat-sensitive, image forming thermal material. The protective layer comprises a cured silicone resin overlying one side of the substrate and positioned on the same side of the support layer as the thermal layer. In another aspect, the present invention comprises a method of making thermal recording paper comprising coating one side of the substrate with a silicone resin such that the silicone resin is positioned on the same side of the support layer as the thermal layer, and curing the silicone resin by exposing it to radiation such as electron beam radiation or ultraviolet radiation.