Bhutan’s King and Queen
King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck and Queen Jetsun Pema are the fifth king and queen of Bhutan. They are more known as the Dragon King and Dragon Queen and are also referred to as “William and Kate of the Himalayas”. They were married on October 13, 2011, born out of love rather than an arranged marriage which is a tradition in the country. Their five-hour fairytale-like wedding ceremony was televised and shown to the public. After the ceremony, the King and Queen sealed a kiss in front of a huge crowd who were very cheerful for them. Instead of spending time for honeymoon, the royal couple had a walking tour in Bhutan to meet the people. Although Bhutan allows polygamous relationships, the young King said he will remain monogamous despite the tradition.
King Jigme Singye Wangchuck (Bhutan’s Fourth King)
Jigme Singe Wangchuk, the Dragon King’s father, enacted many reforms in Bhutan. He introduced democracy to the country. King Jigme ascended the throne after his father in 2006, at the age of 26. Through the current king’s modern ways and worldwide appeal, he is doing state visits particularly in Thailand, Japan, England and India to raise the international profile of his country.
The Himalayan monarch and Queen Jetsun announced the birth of their son on February 19, 2015. As tradition, their son’s name was not revealed at first. He had only been known as “Royal Highness The Gyalsey” – a Buddhist word for prince. In April 2015, a colourful ceremony was held at Punakha palace in the Himalayan Kingdom. The name of the prince is Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck. Jigme means “fearless”.
The king and queen are beloved of Bhutan citizens because of their youthful spirit and sweet romantic union. The couple lives a simple life and often greet the public with a cup of tea which prove their humility.