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The young ruler of the world's last Himalayan kingdom gently placed the silk brocade crown on the head of his exquisite bride, touched her face, and smiled.

That was the closest thing to a kiss a traditional Buddhist ceremony might allow the new Queen of Bhutan on her wedding day and even that seemed avant garde amid chanting monks and clouds of incense.

• See AP Photographer Kevin Frayer's Photos of the  elaborate ceremony.
  

Then again, King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, the 31-year old monarch with an Oxford education and Elvis Presley hairstyle, had never been conventional by Bhutanese standards in his romance with Jetsun Pema, the 21-year old daughter of an airline pilot.

The two had dated for a long time and he did not attempt to hide his intentions. He has held her hand in public and kissed her cheek, which is seismic in the conservative culture of the tiny nation that remains isolated by choice.

"I have longed for this celebration, and here it is," said Pema Gyeltshen, a nearby villager, to the Associated Press.

Bhutan has only 700,000 citizens and people are certain King Jigme has met every one of them. He has been known to push into crowds to shake hands, hold babies, and comfort elderly women overwhelmed by the magnitude of his recognition.

The royal couple represents a generation of young Bhutanese that is aware of globalization and Western ideals but protective of the kingdom's ancient traditions.

It is a place that measures 'Gross National Happiness' as something more valuable than economic growth and every policy decision of the democratic government is set against those metrics. Foreign television and Internet arrived just over a decade ago and while Bhutan is now open to tourism, hordes of travellers are curtailed by high visa costs and a steep fee paid for every day spent there.

Yet for all of the weight put on resisting outside influence the 'Fifth Dragon King', who came to power in 2008 at the beginning of Bhutan's democracy, apparently realizes self-sufficiency has its limits. He acts as an advisor in politics though he is said to be careful to leave the governing of Bhutan to the government.

His love life is another matter. Today, as King Jigme and his new Queen made their way on foot back to the capital, Thimpu, from the sacred 500-year old monastery where they wed, villagers lined roads to extend their good wishes. That the newlywed royals mingled with commoners deepened the atmosphere of captivation.

The Fourth King, who abdicated to his son, had four wives -- all sisters- who shunned public attention.

The new Queen, also educated in the UK, is said to be an excellent basketball player and the two share a love of art. King Jigme believes despite years of impatience around his eventual marriage that he knows he found 'the right person'.

"She is a wonderful human being," he told a group of reporters.

The King also let it be known that unlike his father he will take only one wife so the country is unlikely to see such elaborate pageantry again for a long time. To honour it, Bhutan has declared a three-day national holiday to celebrate what it regards as a true sign of happiness.

@janisctv