King Maha Vajiralongkorn, 66, who reportedly met his new Queen on a flight, has already been and married and divorced three times before and has seven children. But in a shock announcement in the Royal Gazette on Wednesday, it was revealed the King had wed General Suthida Vajiralongkorn – who had been deputy head of his bodyguard unit – who is now known as Queen Suthida. The news comes just days before King Vajiralongkorn’s elaborate coronation ceremony which begins on Saturday.
King Vajiralongkorn, also known by the title King Rama X, became the constitutional monarch after the death of his father, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, in October 2016, after 70 years on the throne.
Footage from the wedding ceremony was shown on Thai TV channels late Wednesday, showing other members of the royal family and palace advisers in attendance.
The new Queen wore a pink silk traditional dress and the King was seen in a white uniform.
The couple are shown signing a marriage registry.
But not much is known about his new wife, despite being in the public eye for about three years.
There has been little official information released about her and the news of the marriage has come as a shock to many Thais.
Queen Suthida is reported to be aged 40 and previously worked for Thai Airways International.
In 2014, the King appointed her as a deputy commander of his bodyguard unit and made her a full general in the army in December 2016.
The following year King Rama X selected the new Queen as deputy commander of the King’s personal guard.
He also made her a Thanpuying, a royal title meaning Lady.
A royal statement revealing the wedding announcement said: King Vajiralongkorn “has decided to promote General Suthida Vajiralongkorn Na Ayudhya, his royal consort, to become Queen Suthida and she will hold royal title and status as part of the royal family”.
The King’s coronation will take place over three days, May 4-6, in elaborate Buddhist and Brahmin ceremonies, finishing with a procession through Bangkok.