The king of Thailand has turned the deputy head of his personal security detail into a queen by marrying her.
According to a recent royal statement, King Maha Vajiralongkorn, 66, “has decided to promote General Suthida Vajiralongkorn Na Ayudhya, his royal consort, to become Queen Suthida and she will hold royal title and status as part of the royal family.”
King Vajiralongkorn, who has reportedly been Queen Suthida’s romantic partner for many years, has been married and divorced three times in the past.
A former flight attendant for Thai Airways, Suthida Tidjai was appointed by Vajiralongkorn as the deputy commander of his Royal bodyguard unit in 2014. Two years later, he made her a full general in the army.
Local television channels aired some footage from the wedding ceremony late Wednesday. Members of the royal family and palace advisers were in attendance at the ceremony, BBC reports.