In this photo released by the Bureau of the Royal Household, Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun, right, presents a gift to Queen Suthida Vajiralongkorn Na Ayudhya at Ampornsan Throne Hall in Bangkok, Thailand, on May 1, 2019. (Bureau of the Royal Household via AP)

Thailand gets new queen, just days ahead of king's coronation

BANGKOK - Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn has married his royal consort Suthida Vajiralongkorn and made her his queen, it was announced Wednesday.
The brief announcement in the Royal Thai Government Gazette was published just days ahead of the king's coronation ceremony to be held this weekend.

Queen Suthida, in her early 40s, is a former Thai Airways flight attendant who serves in the king's personal guard and often accompanies him when he performs his royal duties.

It is the king's fourth marriage.

The 66-year-old monarch was proclaimed the country's new king on Dec. 1, 2016, after his revered father, who had reigned for seven decades, died on Oct. 13, 2016, at the age of 88.

After ascending the throne on Saturday, he will be known as King Rama X of Chakri Dynasty, established in 1782.

The much-delayed coronation ceremony will be part of three days of events including a royal parade on Sunday.

Thailand is a constitutional monarchy in which the king reigns but does not rule.

Source: https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20190502/p2g/00m/0in/014000c