Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn has married the deputy head of his personal bodyguard unit, making her Queen Suthida Vajiralongkorn na Ayudhaya.
In a surprise ceremony, the 66-year-old royal tied the knot with his 40-year-old bride ahead of his coronation, which will be marked with elaborate Buddhist and Brahmin ceremonies this weekend in Bangkok.
King Vajiralongkorn, also known by the title King Rama X, became constitutional monarch following the death in October 2016 of his father King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who sat on the throne for 70 years.
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The father-of-seven has previously been married and divorced three times, most recently in 2014.
Thai television, which broadcast the royal order, showed a video of Suthida prostrating herself before the king.
The Royal Urn of Thailand’s late King Bhumibol Adulyadej is seen inside the Royal Crematorium site
REUTERS
Smoke is seen at the Royal Crematorium site
REUTERS
A Thai woman grieves as she watches a video screen showing the funeral of the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej
Getty Images
The Royal Urn of Thailand’s late King Bhumibol Adulyadej is seen inside the Royal Crematorium site
REUTERS
Thai mourners gather to watch the royal cremation ceremony of the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej
EPA
The Great Victory Chariot carrying the royal urn of Thailand’s late King Bhumibol Adulyadej arrives
REUTERS
The royal chariot is brought into the cremation grounds
AFP/Getty Images
The Great Victory Chariot carrying the royal urn of Thailand’s late King Bhumibol Adulyadej
Rex Features
Soldiers pay their respects at the funeral procession
AP
The Great Victory Chariot carrying the royal urn is pulled during the funeral procession
REUTERS
The funeral urn of the late Thai king Bhumibol Adulyadej is transported up a ramp into the crematorium
AFP/Getty Images
Mourners attend the funeral procession for Thailand’s late King Bhumibol Adulyadej
REUTERS
The Great Victory Chariot carrying the royal urn of Thailand’s late King Bhumibol Adulyadej
REUTERS
The royal cremation ceremony
EPA
The Great Victory Chariot carrying the royal urn is pulled during the funeral procession
Reuters
Mourners praying for the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej
AP
Policemen patrol outside Grand Palace where the body of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej is enshrined
AP
People queue to attend the funeral of the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej
Getty Images
A mourner holds an image of the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej as she waits for his funeral
AFP/Getty Images
Mourners rest as they wait for the funeral of the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej to begin
AFP/Getty Images
Mourners shelter from the rain as they gather at night while waiting for the funeral of the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej
AFP/Getty Images
The Royal Urn of Thailand’s late King Bhumibol Adulyadej is seen inside the Royal Crematorium site
REUTERS
Smoke is seen at the Royal Crematorium site
REUTERS
A Thai woman grieves as she watches a video screen showing the funeral of the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej
Getty Images
The Royal Urn of Thailand’s late King Bhumibol Adulyadej is seen inside the Royal Crematorium site
REUTERS
Thai mourners gather to watch the royal cremation ceremony of the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej
EPA
The Great Victory Chariot carrying the royal urn of Thailand’s late King Bhumibol Adulyadej arrives
REUTERS
The royal chariot is brought into the cremation grounds
AFP/Getty Images
The Great Victory Chariot carrying the royal urn of Thailand’s late King Bhumibol Adulyadej
Rex Features
Soldiers pay their respects at the funeral procession
AP
The Great Victory Chariot carrying the royal urn is pulled during the funeral procession
REUTERS
The funeral urn of the late Thai king Bhumibol Adulyadej is transported up a ramp into the crematorium
AFP/Getty Images
Mourners attend the funeral procession for Thailand’s late King Bhumibol Adulyadej
REUTERS
The Great Victory Chariot carrying the royal urn of Thailand’s late King Bhumibol Adulyadej
REUTERS
The royal cremation ceremony
EPA
The Great Victory Chariot carrying the royal urn is pulled during the funeral procession
Reuters
Mourners praying for the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej
AP
Policemen patrol outside Grand Palace where the body of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej is enshrined
AP
People queue to attend the funeral of the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej
Getty Images
A mourner holds an image of the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej as she waits for his funeral
AFP/Getty Images
Mourners rest as they wait for the funeral of the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej to begin
AFP/Getty Images
Mourners shelter from the rain as they gather at night while waiting for the funeral of the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej
AFP/Getty Images
She presented her new husband with a tray of flowers and joss sticks, and in return was bestowed traditional gifts associated with royal power.
Born Suthida Tidjai, the new queen graduated from Bangkok’s private Assumption University with a bachelor’s degree in communication arts in 2000, the Thai Rath newspaper reported.
She previously worked as a flight attendant on Thai Airways International and the couple are believed to have met on a flight.
King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida during their wedding ceremony in Bangkok (AFP/Getty)
After joining the palace guard in 2013, she became deputy commander of the king’s own bodyguard regiment.
Her husband is commander of the unit.
Before their marriage, she held the rank of general in the royal Thai army, having been promoted to the position by royal decree in December 2016 shortly after King Vajiralongkorn took the throne.
The new queen also has several top royal decorations.
Criticising or insulting her is a crime under Thailand’s lese majeste laws, which carry punishment of up to 15 years in prison for each incident.
The king, queen, heir to the throne and regent are covered under the law.
During this weekend’s coronation, the king is likely to bestow his new bride with new royal titles, as is tradition for a new monarch.
Reuters contributed to this report