King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida of Thailand arrived in Bhutan on 26 April 2025 for a four-day state visit at the invitation of Bhutan’s monarch, King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck. The visit aims to reinforce the cultural and diplomatic ties between the two nations, which share a strong devotion to Buddhism and mutual development interests.
The Thai royals landed at Paro International Airport, about 50 kilometres from the capital Thimphu, where they were received by King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, Queen Jetsun Pema, and members of the Bhutanese royal family. King Vajiralongkorn, an experienced military pilot, flew the aircraft himself, with Queen Suthida acting as co-pilot. Upon arrival, the couple was greeted with a guard of honour and traditional cultural performances before proceeding to Thimphu.
The state visit includes official ceremonies at Tashichho Dzong and spiritual activities at significant religious sites. On 26 April, the King and Queen of Thailand attended a Buddhist chanting ceremony at the Buddha Dordenma statue, where 74 monks from each country participated. During the event, Their Majesties presented a relic of the Lord Buddha to Bhutan’s King and Queen for permanent enshrinement as a symbol of enduring friendship.
Their itinerary also features visits to several development projects, highlighting cooperation between the Royal Project Foundation of Thailand and Bhutanese agencies. At the Dechencholing Royal Project, Their Majesties viewed exhibitions on programs like the De-suung Project and the One Gewog One Product initiative, which promote sustainable economic growth and community development.
In the coming days, the royal couple will experience Bhutanese cultural heritage at Lingkana Palace and conclude their trip with a pilgrimage to Dungkar Dzong in the Paro Valley. Their engagements continue until 28 April 2025, emphasizing the strengthening of bilateral relations between Thailand and Bhutan.
Members of the Bhutanese royal family and local citizens welcomed the Thai King and Queen with warmth throughout their visit, as reported by Bhutanese media and Thai PBS World.
