King Maha Vajiralongkorn will have his official coronation on Saturday Thailand's King Announces He Has a New Queen Just Days Before His Coronation Thailand has a new king…and queen! King Maha Vajiralongkorn – who will have his official coronation on Saturday – announced Wednesday that he had married his consort, General Suthida Vajiralongkorn Na Ayudhya, and named her Queen Suthida, according to the Associated Press. Get push notifications with news, features and more. The announcement was reportedly made in the Royal Gazette, although it did not give a date of the wedding. Thai television stations broadcast the royal order on Wednesday along with a video of Suthida, wearing a pale pink dress, laying before the king and presenting him with a tray of flowers and joss sticks, AP reports. Suthida, 40, was presented gifts in return. The couple also signed a marriage certificate book, also signed by the king’s sister, Princess Sirindhorn, and Privy Council head as witnesses. Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha and other senior officials were also in attendance at the ceremony. Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun, Queen Suthida Vajiralongkorn Na Ayudhya King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida | Credit: Bureau of the Royal Household/AP/Shutterstock King Maha, 66, became monarch after the death of his father, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, in October 2016. The exact reason for the delayed formal coronation is unknown, although it was initially said to be due to a mourning period for the king’s father. The Thai monarch has had three previous marriages. He divorced his most recent wife in 2014. Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun, Queen Suthida Vajiralongkorn Na Ayudhya King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida Vajiralongkorn Na Ayudhya | Credit: Bureau of the Royal Household/AP/Shutterstock Little is known about Thailand’s new queen. The couple reportedly met on a flight when she was working as a flight flight attendant for Thai Airways International.<doc-sep>On Wednesday, the woman who is about to be the new Queen of Thailand was revealed. The news comes days ahead of an elaborate ceremony to crown King Maha Vajiralongkorn, who succeeded his father, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, to the throne. The late king died in October 2016 and it is traditional for a long mourning period before a new king is crowned. The King's birthday is another huge day of celebration in Thailand The new queen, General Suthida Vajiralongkorn na Ayudhya, now known as Queen Suthida, is a former military general who has been one of the king's bodyguards for years. But the news of their marriage comes as a surprise to the Thai public and not much information about the happy event has been revealed – including when or where it took place. We do know that, according to a statement from the palace, the couple were married "legally and in accordance with Royal tradition". RELATED: King Rama X is proclaimed Thailand's new monarch after death of King Bhumibol Queen Suthida used to be a flight attendant for Thai Airways but will presumably be able to put her feet up while she travels from now on. Loading the player... WATCH: A look back at The Queen's 1953 coronation The 66-year-old monarch has been married three times before: first to his cousin, Princess Soamsawali Kitiyakara, who he married in 1977. He then married Yuvadhida Polpraserth, with whom he had five children, in 1994, but their marriage only lasted two years. Although she moved to America with their four sons, their daughter Sirivannavari Nariratana lives in Thailand and is a princess. In 2001, the king remarried again, this time to Srirasmi Suwadee, with whom he has one son, Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti, who was born in 2005. They separated in 2014, at which time she lost her royal titles. The king has travelled the world and spent time living in Germany before his father's death READ MORE: King Bhumibol of Thailand funeral: International royalty joins Thai royal family in Bangkok King Maha Vajiralongkorn will be the 10th monarch of the Chakri dynasty and the three-day coronation ceremony – the country's first since 1950 – begins on Saturday. Queen Suthida is certain to be involved, although it has not yet been revealed in what capacity. Thai royal news is often hidden, and local media is forbidden from writing anything critical about the family. Like this story? Sign up to our newsletter to get other stories like this delivered straight to your inbox.<doc-sep>BANGKOK — A former commander of His Majesty the King’s bodyguards was named the new Queen of Thailand today. A royal command issued on Wednesday, just three days before the formal coronation of King Vajiralongkorn is due to take place, announced that the King has married Gen. Suthida Vajiralongkorn na Ayudhya and therefore elevated her to be Queen Suthida. News footage released by the Royal Household Bureau on Wednesday night shows the couple married at Dusit Palace in Bangkok. Little is known about Thailand’s new Queen, though media reports say Suthida has been serving in the Ratchawanlop Guards, a unit of bodyguards protecting the then-Crown Prince, since 2013. She is often seen escorting the King in a number of important state ceremonies. In October 2016, Suthida was awarded the Rattanabhorn Medal by the King for serving as his bodyguard. A year later, he awarded her with another accolade, the Knight Grand Cross of the Most Illustrious Order of Chula Chomklao. This is a developing story. Related stories: Royal Decoration Awarded to King’s Chief Bodyguard Royal Medal for Crown Prince’s Bodyguard<doc-sep>Today’s Headlines The most important news stories of the day, curated by Post editors and delivered every morning. By signing up you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy<doc-sep>
Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn, 66, has married his consort, General Suthida Vajiralongkorn Na Ayudhya, a former flight attendant who had been a commander of his bodyguard unit, just three days before his official coronation Saturday. The surprise announcement in the Royal Gazette on Wednesday said she is legally married to the king and is now known as Queen Suthida. Video from Wednesday’s wedding ceremony was later broadcast on the nightly Royal News segment which aired on all Thai television channels, according to Reuters. CANADIAN MAN DIES AFTER ZIPLINE CABLE SNAPS IN THAILAND Even though the new queen has been in the public eye for about three years, not much is known about her. She reportedly is 40-years-old and has previously worked as a flight attendant for Thai Airways International. NEW THAI GOVERNMENT MAY BE UNSTABLE, SHORT-LIVED In 2014, she joined the palace guard and became the deputy commander of the king's personal guard three years later. In 2016, The king also reportedly made her a full general in the Royal Thai Army. According to Reuters, there has been some speculation by foreign media that the two were romantically linked, but the palace had previously never acknowledged a relationship between them. Vajiralongkorn, also known by the title King Rama X, became king in 2016 after the death of his father, King Bhumibol Adulyadej. He is expected to be officially crowned on Saturday in elaborate Buddhist and Brahmin ceremonies, followed by a procession through Bangkok the next day. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Vajiralongkorn has had three previous marriages. The Associated Press contributed to this report.