Suthida named new Thai queen days before King Maha Vajiralongkorn's coronation

Queen Suthida served in the special unit of the King’s Guard and was a former flight attendant with Thai Airways

Vajiralongkorn has married her ‘legally and according to tradition’, according to a royal decree

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King Maha Vajiralongkorn and his consort, General Suthida Vajiralongkorn, named Queen Suthida, at their wedding ceremony in Bangkok. Photo: Reuters

Published: 8:18pm, 1 May 2019Updated: 6:44pm, 27 Oct 2020

Thailand on Wednesday announced it would have a new queen, three days before the coronation ceremony for King Maha Vajiralongkorn.

The new royal is General Suthida Vajiralongkorn, whom the king wedded at the Dusit Palace on Wednesday “legally and according to tradition”, according to a royal decree.

Both signed a marriage certificate in front of guests including the king’s sister, Princess Sirindhorn, and the head of the privy council, General Prem Tinsulanonda. The princess and the senior statesman also signed the marriage certificate as witnesses to the ceremony.

Among the dignitaries at the wedding were Prayuth Chan-ocha, the leader of the military junta that has run Thailand since a 2014 army coup.

A few hours after the ceremony, a royal decree was issued and local television channels reported the ceremony.

Queen Suthida is 40 years old and served in the special unit of the King’s Guard. She used to be a flight attendant at Thai Airways.

Since Vajiralongkorn ascended the throne in 2016 after the death of his father, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Suthida has been seen alongside the ruler on various formal occasions, wearing a white army uniform.

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