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    His majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck smiles at his bride during the purification marriage ceremony to Queen Jetsun Pema in the historical Punakha Dzong on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2011 in Punakha, Bhutan. The Dzong is the same venue that hosted the King's historic coronation ceremony in 2008. The Oxford-educated king is popular in the country and the ceremony will be followed by celebration in the capital and countryside.

    King of Bhutan marries commoner bride

    PUNAKHA, BhutanKing 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. Monks chanted in celebration as she took up her seat beside him as the new queen of the country.

    The wedding has captivated the nation, which had grown impatient with their 31-year-old bachelor king's lack of urgency to wed. Children composed poems, flight attendants practiced celebratory dances and posters of the couple were nearly ubiquitous.

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