King of Bhutan marries in elaborate ceremony

PUNAKHA, Bhutan

Bhutan's king, known as the fifth Dragon King, married his new bride on Wednesday.

King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck, 31, married 21-year-old commoner Jetsun Pema. Much of the country's 700,000 people watched the ceremony live on TV.

Thousands of villagers joined the royal newlyweds for a reception outside the monastery where they said their vows.

One single woman asked the king how it felt to be married. "It's great," he responded. "You should try it yourself."

The king's spokesman declined to say how the couple met, although their families knew each other.

The country has not had a royal wedding since the fourth king held a mass ceremony in 1988 with his four wives. The current king says he will take only one wife, so the country is unlikely to see another such celebration for a long time.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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