The king and lie: Thai ruler's consort lays at his feet as he marries the former flight attendant in surprise move days before his coronation
- Former flight attendant Suthida Vajiralongkorn na Ayudhya married Thai king
- King Maha Vajiralongkorn is due to be crowned 10th monarch of Chakri dynasty
- Coronation will take place in elaborate three-day ceremony starting Saturday
Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn has married his long-term consort and given her the title Queen Suthida just days before his coronation, in a surprise move.
Photos show Suthida Vajiralongkorn na Ayudhya, a former Thai Airways flight attendant, laying on the floor as she was given a gift by the king during the marriage ceremony.
She 'legally married' the King in accordance with royal traditions, an announcement in the Royal Gazette said, with a statement from the royal family explaining that the King had decided to promote General Suthida Vajiralongkorn Na Aydhaya, his royal consort, to become Queen Suthida'.
According to CNN, the statement added that 'she will hold royal title and status as part of the royal family'.
Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn has married his long-term consort Suthida Vajiralongkorn na Ayudhya, pictured during the ceremony at the Ampornsan Throne Hall in Bangkok, just days before his coronation
Suthida Vajiralongkorn na Ayudhya, newly named Queen Suthida, prays at the feet of her husband during the ceremony
Suthida Vajiralongkorn na Ayudhya, a former Thai Airways flight attendant, 'legally married' the King in accordance with royal traditions
The marriage took place ahead of this weekend's coronation, which will be the first since Vajiralongkorn's late father's nearly 70 years ago
Queen Suthida signs marriage license documents during the royal marriage registration ceremony while a member of the royal court lay at the King's feet
It was also explained that the monarch had 'performed a royal wedding ceremony with General Suthida Vajiralongkorn Na Aydhaya in accordance to law and royal traditions in a full and righteous manner', which explains why the bride had to lay at her husband's feet.
Thai royal traditions dictate that the ruling king is to be regarded as god-like and semi-divine, and as a result, he must sit higher than everyone else, to the point that, during official ceremonies and speeches, his feet should be elevated above everyone else's heads.
During the ceremony, once the royal couple is seated, the bride is able to sit alongside her husband - as Queen Suthida is shown doing in images from the wedding.
However others taking part in the wedding must continue to lay before the King, as one member of the royal court is seen doing while the queen signed her marriage license.
Long seen trailing the King in public events as part of his personal security retinue, Suthida was given the rank of 'general' in 2017.
The unpredictable royal is due to be crowned the 10th monarch of the Chakri dynasty in an elaborate three-day ceremony starting Saturday.
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The new king is well-known for his eccentricity and was spotted wearing a crop top and carrying a poodle in 2016
The scantily-clad woman with the King in the photos from 2016 is his new wife, pictured carrying the King's poodle
Long seen trailing the King in public events as part of his personal security retinue, Suthida was given the rank of 'general' in 2017
Vajiralongkorn, who has been married three times, is due to be crowned the 10th monarch of the Chakri dynasty in an elaborate three-day ceremony starting Saturday
Vajiralongkorn, who has been married three times, has spent much of his time in Germany.
Harsh lese-majeste laws have shielded public scrutiny of his colourful private life, and all media in Thailand must self-censor.
This weekend's coronation will be the first since Vajiralongkorn's late father's nearly 70 years ago.
It was not immediately clear what role Queen Suthida will play in the ceremony.
Thailand's new king is well known for his eccentricity.
In 2016, he was spotted wearing a tight, white crop top, his body adorned with temporary tattoos and holding a white fluffy poodle, while standing next to his consort.
A father-of-seven, he has three failed marriages, a love of fast jets and a reputation for having an explosive temper.
During an attempted coup in Thailand in 2014, a film was published online of his third wife dressed in nothing but a black G-string while she sang happy birthday to the royal couple's beloved pet poodle, Fufu.
The unpredictable monarch, pictured in 1999, is due to be crowned the 10th monarch of the Chakri dynasty in an elaborate three-day ceremony starting Saturday.
The King's mother, Queen Sirikit (pictured) has previously described her son as a 'Don Juan' and womaniser
Vajiralongkorn's late father, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, was crowned nearly 70 years ago and his son is set to succeed him
The king's relationship with his newly crowned queen has been compared to musical 'The King and I' (pictured) which features the King of Siam and a woman hired to tutor his children
In 2009, former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra spoke of his doubts about the then-Prince's suitability for the role of king.
In 2007, footage published online showed the king throwing a party for his pet poodle - who held the rank of Air Chief Marshall - at the Royal Palace in Bangkok.
Princess Srirasmi, who sang happy birthday to the dog topless, also got on her knees and ate from a dog bowl in the same video.
The relationship between the King and his new Queen has been compared to the famous musical The King and I.
The play follows strong-willed, widowed schoolteacher Anna Leonowens, who arrives in Bangkok at the request of the King of Siam to tutor his children.
Romantic feelings later blossom between the King and tutor.
Who is the playboy prince that became king? Thai monarch has spent most of his life overseas and been married three times before
King Maha was born on July 24, 1952 in Bangkok's Royal Dusit Palace, the 64-year-old is the only son and male heir of King Bhumibol and Queen Sirikit.
As an adolescent he studied at two public schools in Britain, including King's Mead School, Seaford, Sussex, and then at Millfield School, Somerset. After, he embarked on a military career, training in Australia.
In 1976, he graduated as a newly commissioned lieutenant with a liberal arts bachelors degree from the University of New South Wales.
Pictured: Queen Sirikit of Thailand with Prince Maha (left) and Princess Rajakanya in 1953
King Maha was born on July 24, 1952 in Bangkok's Royal Dusit Palace. As an adolescent he studied at two public schools in Britain
After graduating he started a career in the military training with US, British and Australian armed forces. He also qualified as a a fixed wing helicopter pilot in the late 1970s in the Royal Thai Army.
His military career was interrupted in 1978 so he could be ordained for a season as a Buddhist monk, as is customary for all Thai Buddhist men.
He married his first wife in 1977, a cousin, Princess Soamsavali Kitiyakara, with whom he has a daughter, Princess Bajrakitiyabha in 1978. They divorced in 1993.
He wed his first cousin Soamsawali Kitiyakara (left) in January 1977 but nine months after she gave birth to his daughter the prince had a son with actress Yuvadhida Polpraserth
The King, a licensed pilot, in the cockpit of a fighter jet with one of his five children
Nine months after his daughter was born, the prince had a son with actress Yuvadhida Polpraserth, with whom he went on to have a total of five children and a tumultuous relationship.
Three years later his relationship broke down with Ms Polpraserth as she fled to the UK in 1996, after a spectacular bust up.
In 2001 he wed his third wife Srirasmi Suwadee, describing her as a 'modest and patient' woman who 'never says bad things towards anyone' and like his previous relationships there were to be a number of controversies in their time together.
In 2007, footage published online showed the couple throwing a party for his pet poodle - who held the rank of Air Chief Marshall - at the Royal Palace in Bangkok. Princess Srirasmi, a former waitress, who sang happy birthday to the dog topless, also got on her knees and ate from a dog bowl in the same video.
Footage from 2007 shows Prince Maha throwing a birthday party for his pet poodle Fufu - who held the rank of Air Chief Marshall - at the Royal Palace in Bangkok. Pictured: His third wife dressed in nothing more than a G-string to celebrate Fufu's birthday
In 2001 he wed his third wife Srirasmi Suwadee (pictured with their son Dipangkom Rasmijoti), describing her as a 'modest and patient' woman who 'never says bad things towards anyone'
In late 2014, Srirasmi suffered a very public fall from grace when several members of her family were arrested as part of a police corruption probe and charged with lese majeste (treason).
Vajiralongkorn later divorced her and she lost her royal titles . The crown prince has spent much of his time away from the public eye, but in recent years he has stepped in at some official ceremonies as his father's health declined.
Despite holding a number of military titles, including Knight of the Ancient and Auspicious Order of the Nine Gems, the prince admitted to an interviewer he was unable to tie his own shoe laces aged 12 because courtiers had always done it for him.
The crown prince has spent much of his time away from the public eye, living overseas in Germany, but in recent years he has stepped in at some official ceremonies as his father's health declined.
In August 2015 he led key figures of the current junta and thousands of others in a mass bike ride through Bangkok, a rare high-profile appearance.
He was drafted in as King in October 2016, 50 days after the death of his father, the highly revered Bhumibol Adulyadej. He had to fly back from Germany after learning of his father's deteriorating health in the days before.
Thai junta leader Prayuth Chan-ocha announced that the Crown Prince would ascend the throne with tthe statement: 'The government will inform the National Legislative Assembly that His Majesty the King appointed his heir on Dec. 28, 1972.'
However, in a shock move he requested to delay his coronation and ascension to the throne for a year to mourn the passing of his father.
