Category Archives: Bhutan Royals

Crown Prince Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck, Dragon Prince of Bhutan

by Susan Flantzer  © Unofficial Royalty 2020

Crown Prince Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck, on the left, with his family; Credit – Facebook page of King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck of Bhutan

His Royal Highness Crown Prince Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck, Druk Gyalsey (Dragon Prince) of Bhutan was born on February 5, 2016, at the Lingkana Palace in Thimphu, Bhutan. He is the elder of the two sons of King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck of Bhutan and Jetsun Pema, Queen of Bhutan. Jigme Namgyel is the heir apparent to the throne of Bhutan. Before his birth, his paternal uncle Prince Jigyel Ugyen of Bhutan was the heir presumptive.

In honor of Jigme Namgyel’s birth, all 82,000 households in Bhutan planted a tree and volunteers planted another 26,000 in various districts around the country, for a total of 108,000 trees.

Volunteers plant trees in honor of the new prince’s birth; Credit – EcoWatch

As is customary in Bhutan, the Crown Prince’s name was not announced until a special Buddhist naming ceremony was held. The naming ceremony was held on April 16, 2016, Zhabdrung Kuchoe, Bhutan’s national day of celebration, at the Punakha Dzong, a 17th-century palace housing the relics of a famous Buddhist master in Punakha, the administrative capital of the Punakha district, one of the 20 districts within Bhutan. The national day marks the anniversary of the death in 1651 of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, the unifier of Bhutan as a nation. On this day, the people of Bhutan visit local temples and offer gifts to the gods.

The King and Queen arrive for the naming ceremony with the infant Crown Prince; Credit – His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck Facebook Page

On the day of the ceremony, King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Queen Jetsun Pema prayed at a Buddhist monastery in Thimphu, Bhutan’s capital, before driving to Punakha.

King Jigme Khesar Namgyel giving his speech; Credit – His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck Facebook Page

At the public ceremony, King Jigme Khesar Namgyel explained the meaning behind his son’s names in a special speech. An English translation of the speech was posted on his official Facebook page:

“Jigme means fearless. It symbolizes great courage to overcome any challenge that he may confront in the future as he serves our country.

Namgyel means victorious in all directions and victory over all obstacles. It is a name taken from the revered Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel, who enabled the Dharma to flourish in all directions as prophesied by Guru Rinpoche.

Wangchuck is the name of the royal lineage and dynasty. (Note: In Bhutan, only members of the royal family have traditional surnames.)

When the time comes for Gyalsey Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck to serve his country, he must always place the concerns of his country above all else and serve his people justly with great love and dedication. It will be his sacred responsibility to build a harmonious and just society, and thereby, fulfill all the aspirations of his people. He must live such a life as a good human being and serve his country in a manner that it will be exemplary and worthy of emulation.”

Jigme Namgyel has one younger brother and one younger sister:

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Works Cited

  • DW.COM. 2016. Bhutan Names New Crown Prince Jigme Namgyal Wangchuck | DW | 16.04.2016. [online] Available at: <https://www.dw.com/en/bhutan-names-new-crown-prince-jigme-namgyal-wangchuck/a-19192920> [Accessed 7 August 2020].
  • En.wikipedia.org. 2020. Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck. [online] Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jigme_Namgyel_Wangchuck> [Accessed 7 August 2020].
  • HELLO!. 2016. The Newborn Prince Of Bhutan Will Get His Name In April. [online] Available at: <https://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/2016030968997/prince-of-bhutan-to-be-named-in-april/> [Accessed 7 August 2020].
  • Kuenselonline.com. 2016. His Royal Highness The Gyalsey Is Born – Kuenselonline. [online] Available at: <https://kuenselonline.com/his-royal-highness-the-gyalsey-is-born-2/> [Accessed 7 August 2020].
  • PEOPLE.com. 2016. Bhutan’s Dragon Prince Has A Name, King Jigme And Queen Jetsun Announce. [online] Available at: <https://people.com/royals/bhutans-dragon-prince-has-a-name-king-jigme-and-queen-jetsun-announce/> [Accessed 7 August 2020].

King and Queen of Bhutan expecting their first child

Photo Credit – Zimbio

King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck of Bhutan and Queen Jetsun Pema are expecting their first child in February 2016. The couple married on October 13, 2011 in a traditional Buddhist ceremony. As part of the ceremony, the King proclaimed his bride Queen of Bhutan. Several days later, the couple also celebrated a traditional Hindu wedding ceremony.
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Unofficial Royalty: Jetsun Pema, Queen of Bhutan
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King Jigme Singye Wangchuck of Bhutan

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

King Jigme Singye Wangchuck of Bhutan; Credit – By Prime Minister Office (GODL-India), GODL-India, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=90088581

King Jigme Singye Wangchuck, 4th Dragon King of Bhutan reigned from 1972 until he abdicated in 2006 in favor of his son Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck. Born on November 11, 1955, at Dechencholing Palace in Thimphu, Bhutan, he is the son of King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck and Ashi Kezang Choden Wangchuck.

Jigme Singye was educated privately in Bhutan in both traditional and Buddhist studies. He then attended St. Joseph’s College, in Darjeeling, India, followed by a year studying in London. He returned to Bhutan in 1970, studying at the Ugyen Wangchuck Academy. In addition, he received much training from his father in government matters and accompanied him on many trips around the country.

Jigme Singye became the 4th Dragon King of Bhutan upon his father’s sudden death on July 24, 1972. He was just 16 years old. His coronation was held on June 2, 1974.

Beginning his reign as an absolute monarch, Jigme Singye was instrumental in the democratization of the small nation – continuing the steps that his father had begun. He established and strengthened ties with neighboring India, and in many ways put Bhutan on the map. Perhaps his greatest accomplishment was the transition to a constitutional monarchy. While his father had established the first National Assembly in 1953, the primary power still remained with the King. King Jigme Singye was the driving force in bringing a more democratic form of government to the small nation. He transferred much of his power to the Cabinet Council of Ministers and helped to usher in a more democratic form of government.

King Jigme Singye with his four wives. photo: APFNANEWS

King Jigme Singye with his four wives. photo: APFNANEWS

King Jigme Singye has four wives, all of whom are sisters. They were all married privately in 1979, and again in a public ceremony in 1988, held at the Punakha Dzong.  The King has ten children:

With his first wife – Queen Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck

With his second wife – Queen Tshering Pem Wangchuck

With his third wife – Queen Tshering Yangdon Wangchuck

With his fourth wife – Queen Sangay Choden Wangchuck

  • Prince Khasum Singye Wangchuck (1985)
  • Princess Euphelma Choden Wangchuck (1993)
King Jigme Singye crowning his son, King Jigme Khesar, November 2008. Photo: Royal Government of Bhutan

King Jigme Singye crowning his son, King Jigme Khesar, November 2008. Photo: Royal Government of Bhutan

In 2005, King Jigme Singye announced his intention to abdicate in favor of his eldest son and began to hand off many of his responsibilities. Initially intended to happen in 2008 to coincide with the country’s first parliamentary elections, the King formally abdicated on December 9, 2006.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, Dragon King of Bhutan

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, Dragon King of Bhutan; Credit – Wikipedia

Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, Dragon King of Bhutan was born on February 21, 1980, at the Dechencholing Palace in Thimphu, Bhutan. He is the eldest son of King Jigme Singye Wangchuck with his third wife, Queen Ashi Tshering Yangdon.

King Jigme has two full siblings:

He has seven half-siblings via his father’s other three wives:

With his first wife – Queen Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck

With his second wife – Queen Tshering Pem Wangchuck

With his fourth wife – Queen Sangay Choden Wangchuck

  • Prince Khasum Singye Wangchuck (1985)
  • Princess Euphelma Choden Wangchuck (1993)

After beginning his education in Bhutan, he attended boarding school in Massachusetts, first at the Phillips Academy and then graduating from the Cushing Academy in 1999. He attended Wheaton College, also in Massachusetts, before enrolling in the Foreign Services Program and earning his Master’s Degree in Politics at Magdalen College, Oxford. He later attended a year-long course at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, in leadership development.

In 2005, his father announced his intention to abdicate in favor of Jigme Khesar in 2008, timed to coincide with the first democratic elections in the small nation. He began transferring many of his responsibilities to his son. However, on December 9, 2006, he formally abdicated and Jigme Khesar became the 5th Dragon King (Druk Gyalpo) of the Kingdom of Bhutan. At the time, he was the world’s youngest monarch, at just 24 years old.

photo: Zimbio

photo: Zimbio

On October 13, 2011, King Jigme Khesar married Jetsun Pema in a traditional Buddhist ceremony at the Punakha Dzong. As part of the ceremony, he also crowned her as Queen of Bhutan. Several days later, the couple also celebrated a traditional Hindu wedding ceremony.

Crown Prince Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck, on the left, with his family; Credit – Facebook page of King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck of Bhutan

The couple has two sons and one daughter:

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Jetsun Pema, Queen of Bhutan

by Susan Flantzer  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

Jetsun Pema

Jetsun Pema, Queen of Bhutan; Credit – crielaa.blogspot.com

by Susan Flantzer

On October 13, 2011, 21-year-old Jetsun Pema became the youngest queen in the world when she married King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck of Bhutan.  Bhutan is a small, land-locked country in south Asia. The House of Wangchuck has ruled Bhutan since 1907. In 2008, Bhutan made the transition from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy.

Jetsun Pema was born on June 4, 1990, at Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital, the main hospital in Bhutan’s capital, Thimphu. Her parents are Dhondup Gyaltshen, a pilot with Drukair – Royal Bhutan Airlines, the national airline of the Kingdom of Bhutan, and Sonam Chuki. Both parents have connections to the Royal Family of Bhutan. Jetsun Pema’s father is the half-brother of a former queen consort and her mother is the goddaughter of a Bhutanese prince. Besides Jetsun Pema, who is the second eldest, her parents have two sons and two more daughters.

Jetsun Pema received her early education at schools in her birthplace, Thimphu. She started her secondary education in Thimphu but then attended the Lawrence School, a boarding school in Sanawar, India. After completing her education at the Lawrence School, Jetsun Pema attended Regent’s College in London, England where she studied majored in International Relations and minored in Psychology and Art History. She is fluent in Dzongkha, the national language of Bhutan, English, and Hindi. Jetsun Pema was the captain of her high school basketball team and still enjoys the sport. She has played since she was nine years and still plays nearly every day.

Punakha Dzong where the Buddhist wedding ceremony took place; Photo Credit – Wikipedia

Jetsun Pema first met her husband when she was seven and he was seventeen. On October 13, 2011, they were married in a traditional Buddhist ceremony at the Punakha Dzong (the Palace of Great Happiness) in Punakha, Bhutan. The wedding ceremony was followed by a formal proclamation naming the bride as Queen of Bhutan.

Bhutan wedding

King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Queen Jetsun Pema at their wedding; Credit – www.telegraph.co.uk

The bride wore a kira, the Bhutanese national dress for women, of red, yellow, green and white, and a light yellow toego, a long-sleeved, short jacket-like garment over the kira. The groom wore a rose-patterned gho, the Bhutanese national dress for men. This was the same gho that the king’s father and grandfather wore at their weddings.

Bhutan Royal Family, June 2020; Credit – His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck Facebook Page

The couple has two sons and one daughter

Queen Jetsun Pema and her husband meeting the then Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall at Clarence House on November 23, 2011 in London, England

Queen Jestun Pema has accompanied her husband on foreign official trips and she accompanies him on official visits throughout Bhutan. She is the patron of the Ability Bhutan Society, the Royal Society for Protection of Nature, Jigten Wangchuk Tshogpa, and the United Nations Environment Programme Ozone Ambassador.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.