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Prakash Singh / AFP - Getty Images
King of Bhutan Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and future queen Jetsun Pema stand together during their marriage ceremony in the main courtyard of the 17th-century fortified monastery or dzong in Punakha on October 13.
Harish Tyagi / EPA
King Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck with his wife and queen Jetsun Pema pose for the media after their wedding ceremony on October 13.
Paula Bronstein / Getty Images
A woman looks out onto the streets of Thimphu as Bhutan prepares for its royal wedding on October 12.
Kevin Frayer / AP
The royal couple greet locals during a celebration after they were married on October 13.
msnbc.com news services report from PUNAKHA, Bhutan:
Bhutan's beloved "Dragon King" married his commoner bride Thursday in an ancient Buddhist ceremony at the tiny Himalayan nation's most sacred monastery fortress.
King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck, wearing the raven crown, came down from his golden throne in front of a huge statue of Buddha to place a smaller, silk brocade crown upon the head of his bride, Jetsun Pema. Continue reading.
Watch the video below and take a look at our slideshow Fairytales do come true: Royal marriages to commoners.
The world's youngest reigning monarch, Jigme Khesar, also known as the king of Bhutan, married commoner Jetsun Pema, in an elaborate royal wedding, exciting citizens in the tiny Himalayan nation.
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What a GREAT looking couple! Very down to Earth appearing and humble. Love the colored clothing.
I, wish them the very best. The best for their people.
Amazing and beautiful story! :)
May God bless them with peace, happiness, and prosperity...
Absolutely beautiful couple. The artistry in their wedding garments is exquisite! I can see why the people of Bhutan are so enamoured. Dont like the scowling military faces behind them though.
Best wishes for a great future to the wedded couple and to their people!
Good-hope they can keep politicians from messing things up
They look like a beautiful couple. I love the wedding clothing so colorful. Congrats and good luck.
What a beautiful couple. Sounds as if they are not only beautiful on the outside, but the inside as well. I think their people have been, and will continue to be, quite blessed. Much happiness and joy to them.
Much happiness to the Royal couple! What a beautiful ceremony.
Jan from Wesley Chapel, Florida, USA
Magnificent example of peace loving! A beautiful couple.
These Guys make a wonderful couple, may God bless them ...
Santosh Vishnoi, Bangalore, India.
Yes the couple looks nice together .. but lets not over do the Down To Earth thing .. Remember .. this guy and the chosen handfull of people around him spend more money on their lifestlye then the entire rest of the country does as a whole
Hey islenskur... well it is your opinion but I feel it is a bit weird in such kind of forum without understanding and knowing the realities of Bhutan. For your kind information the present king of Bhutan is the most humble, kind and fine gentleman you will ever find in the world who is revered next to God and loved by all Bhutanese people. He is I guess the poorest king in the world in terms of wealth as whatever he has is for the people of Bhutan only. He has traveled all the nooks and corners of the country within less than 3 years of his rein as a king, gave land to landless people, gave scholarship to poor students, gave subsistence allowance to old and poor people... so on and so forth, it goes pages and pages if I describe his good deeds. So please if you cannot do any thing then atleast refrain from providing negative opinion in such forum. Thanks
Ethnic Nepalese who had lived there for many generations had there land taken from them. They were threaten and eventually forced to flee. Ethinic cleansing! What has he done for them? Thanks.
Wish them a blessed life ...........
more pictures please and also videos.Thanks.John NY
Such a shame, the King looks so happy and relaxed. I woder if he ever thinks about 1/3 of its population who were victims of ethnic cleansing and are now forced to live as refugees in neighboring countries. Bhutan is about Gross National Horror and not Gross National Happiness.
Hey Sumairaa.... though that was unfortunate incident, Bhutan did what all other nations would have done to protect herself from getting annihilated by immigrants. To preserve ones culture and tradition was the only solution for a tiny nation to exist in the globalized world that also in between two giant and and highest populated nations in the world. No offense meant.
I agree with Sumairaaa. Pangtse do you know the history of these immigrants? They had been there for generations. Their land and belongings were taken from them. They were FORCED to leave by a King that was an immigrant himself: Tibetan. Non of these actions are in accordance with Buddhist principles. I am thankfully that other nations DO NOT use ethnic cleansing to reduce their population. No offense meant.
Hey Bob, though no offense meant, i suggest you to learn more about whatever you are trying to utter otherwise, i see no substance in it at all and i totally agree with Pangtse.
Wangchen, please enlighten me with specifics, if Iam wrong.
Dragon King looks like a young Elvis...Unlike Elvis let's hope he keeps his dragon in his pants...
Royal weddings among monarchs around the world is an intricate part of the consitutional fabric of the various kingdoms and empires around the world. The Bhutan royal wedding is not only colourful but represent the aspritaions and history of the Bhutan people. I join the rest of the world in general and the developing world in particular in congratulating the dragon king and his bride on the occassion of their royal wedding. Indeed i extend warm felicitations to the Bhutan nation and their government.
The Kings all over the world are wonderfull and fasinated by the fair sex and let alone a comener.Wish a happy wedded life.
How much foreign aid does the US give to Bhutan? What is it used for.
The United States and Bhutan do not have diplomatic relations, and the United States does not give foreign assistance to Bhutan. Informal contact is maintained through the U.S. Embassy and the Bhutanese Embassy in New Delhi. Bhutan does participate in a regional program for South Asia sponsored by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) that helps countries develop their power infrastructure (SARI-E). A few Bhutanese military officers have attended courses at the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies. The U.S. Government annually brings several Bhutanese participants to United States through its International Visitors and Fulbright Programs.
Nice shoes...are those Nike's? Where can I get a pair?
I'm sure they'll live a very lavish lifestyle, while their subjects are living in abject poverty, all with the wasteful foreign ad of the good old USA.
@EddieTheKid - The US does not have official diplomatic relations with Bhutan and therefore supply no foreign aid to the Bhutanese people. We do, however, have unofficial ("cordial") relations with them through an office in New Delhi, India.
And for the record - not all of our foreign aid is wasteful.
Wonder if she has a sister.
She's HOT!!!!! Lucky guy.
its good to be dragon king.
Yeah shes looks ("SWEET"!),wonder if there going shoot ("night"),wouldn't that be some @!$%#!!!
REMEMBER Commoner is a Relative Term ... Prince Charles married a Commoner > who has Millionaire Parents ... Its not like this girl grew up in a dirt hut eating bugs .... like about half the population does.
Beautiful couple! Warm congratulations and best wishes for a long and happy life together.
The king's shoes are very fancy, lol.
Isn't calling the bride a "commoner" like calling a black man a "Negro" in the states. I guess equal rights only applies to the US here on msnbc. Shameful.
How about taking the itme to find out where the bride is from and give her the proper respect relative to her region, minority or ethnicity. Oh wait, that would be good journalism.
But yes, I agree, beautiful couple ...and nice shoes.
i wish them in good health and in bad health , they will resovle any difference . you are now men and wife you may kiss the bride good luck