General Suthida named 'queen consort' of Thai King Vajiralongkorn

Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn announced today that he had married General Suthida Vajiralongkorn, and named her Queen Suthida, just three days ahead of the royal coronation ceremony of the King. The announcement was made in the Royal Gazette.

Suthida, 40, was formerly a flight attendant for Thai Airways. She was appointed the commander of Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn's household guard in August 2014. On 1 May 2019, she became the queen consort of King Vajiralongkorn

Vajiralongkorn, 66, also known by the title King Rama X, became constitutional monarch after the death of his revered father, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, in October 2016 after 70 years on the throne. The coronation ceremonies from May 4 to 6 will be the first the country has seen since his father was crowned on May 5, 1950. 

The official coronation will be a mix of Buddhist religious ceremonies and Hindu Brahmin rituals. The king will be crowned on May 4, and the procession follows the next day. On May 6, declared a national holiday, he will meet Thai and foreign dignitaries.