Bhutan's Royal Wedding

Bhutan's Royal Wedding

PUNAKHA, Bhutan -- The fifth Dragon King came down from his golden throne to place a silk crown upon the head of his bride. Monks chanted in celebration and she took her seat beside him Thursday, the new queen of the tiny Himalayan nation of Bhutan.

The wedding of King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck to his commoner bride, Jetsun Pema, has captivated a nation that had grown impatient with their 31-year-old bachelor king's lack of urgency to take a wife and start a family since his father retired and handed power to him five years ago.

Thousands of Bhutanese from the surrounding villages joined the king and queen at their wedding reception at a fairground outside the country's most sacred monastery fortress, where a slate of dancers performed traditional routines for the new couple.

King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck, center right, and Queen Jetsun Pema greet locals during a celebration after they were married at the Punakha Dzong, in Punakha, Bhutan, Thursday, Oct. 13, 2011. The 31-year old reformist monarch of the small Himalayan Kingdom wed his commoner bride in a series ceremonies Thursday in the 17th century monastic fortress.

Buddhist monks stand on the rooftop as they wait to take part in the marriage ceremony of King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck and Queen Jetsun Pema at the Punakha Dzong, in Punakha, Bhutan, Thursday, Oct. 13, 2011.

Buddhist monks wait to take part in the marriage ceremony of King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck and Queen Jetsun Pema at the Punakha Dzong, in Punakha, Bhutan, Thursday, Oct. 13, 2011.

Bhutanese Bhuddist monks gather in a courtyard following the blessing of King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck and Queen Jetsun Pema before they are married at the Punakha Dzong in Punakha, Bhutan, Thursday, Oct. 13, 2011.

King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck, center left and Queen Jetsun Pema stand during Buddhist blessings prior to their marriage ceremony at the Punakha Dzong, in Punakha, Bhutan, Thursday, Oct. 13, 2011.

King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck, second left and Queen Jetsun Pema sit during Buddhist blessings prior to their marriage at the Punakha Dzong, in Punakha, Bhutan, Thursday, Oct. 13, 2011.

King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck and Queen Jetsun Pema, left, meet locals after they were married at the Punakha Dzong in Punakha, Bhutan, Thursday, Oct. 13, 2011.

King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck, center, and Queen Jetsun Pema, center rear, greet locals during a celebration after they were married at the Punakha Dzong in Punakha, Bhutan, Thursday, Oct. 13, 2011.

King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck, right, holds a young child as he greets locals with Queen Jetsun Pema during a celebration after they were married at the Punakha Dzong in Punakha, Bhutan, Thursday, Oct. 13, 2011.

King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck, left and Queen Jetsun Pema pose after they were married at the Punakha Dzong, in Punakha, Bhutan, Thursday, Oct. 13, 2011.

A Bhutanese woman gestures as she speaks to someone in the street next to a portrait of King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck and future Queen Jetsun Pema, outside her apartment in the capital of Thimphu, Bhutan, Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2011.

A large banner of King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck and future Queen Jetsun Pema is seen on a storefront in the capital of Thimphu, Bhutan, Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2011.

Bhutanese shopkeepers prepare a large banner of King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck and future Queen Jetsun Pema, before hanging it on their storefront in the capital of Thimphu, Bhutan, Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2011.

Bhutanese workers carry a large poster of King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck and future Queen Jetsun Pema, into a bank building in the capital of Thimphu, Bhutan, Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2011.

Bhutanese novice Buddhist monks stand after eating breakfast in a monastery in the capital of Thimphu, Bhutan, Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2011.

Bhutanese novice Buddhist monks eat breakfast in a monastery in the capital of Thimphu, Bhutan, Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2011.

Bhutanese novice Buddhist monks stand outside a monastery in the capital of Thimphu, Bhutan, Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2011.

A Bhutanese student carries a portrait of King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck and future Queen Jetsun Pema, before hanging outside the Lungten Zanpa School, their alma mater in the capital of Thimphu, Bhutan, Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2011.

A Bhutanese worker hangs lights around a picture showing King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck and future Queen Jetsun Pema outside a local hotel in the capital of Thimphu, Bhutan, Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2011.

Bhutanese Buddhist monks perform during a rehearsal for a dance to be performed during the wedding festivities of King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck and future Queen Jetsun Pema, in the capital of Thimphu, Bhutan, Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2011.

Bhutanese Bhuddist prayer flags are seen on a foot-bridge during a practice for the wedding festivities of King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck and future Queen Jetsun Pema, in the capital of Thimphu, Bhutan, Monday, Oct. 10, 2011.

A Bhutanese Buddhist Monk wears a mask as he prepares himself during a rehearsal for a dance to be performed during the wedding festivities of King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck and future Queen Jetsun Pema, in the capital of Thimphu, Bhutan, Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2011.

Bhutanese students hold umbrellas as they practice a dance to be performed during the wedding festivities of King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck and future Queen Jetsun Pema, in the capital of Thimphu, Bhutan, Monday, Oct. 10, 2011.