The Bhutan King & The Royal Family
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Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck was born on 21 February 1980. His Majesty is the reigning King, also known as the “Druk Gyalpo” or “Dragon King” of the Kingdom of Bhutan. His father, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, the Fourth King of Bhutan, abdicated the throne on 9 December 2009. A nationwide coronation ceremony was held on 1 November to mark 100 years of monarchy in Bhutan.
Early life and education
After completing high school at Yangchenphug, his Majesty Joined Phillips Academy Andover in 1998, then transferred to Cushing Academy. His Majesty then attended Wheaton College before graduating from the Magdalen College at the University of Oxford, where he pursued the Foreign Service Programme and International Relations.
Trongsa Penlop
On 31 October 2004, Crown prince Khesar became the 16th Trongsa Penlop ( Serves as the governor of 8 districts of Eastern Bhutan and the next heir to Druk Desi/Monarch). Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel initiated the Trongsa Penlop in 1647, signifying the Throne’s true lineage, where Trongsa Penlop is declared the Crown Prince of Bhutan.
Ascension to the throne
In December 2005, King Jigme Singye Wangchuck, the fourth King, announced his intention to abdicate the throne, and on 9th December 2006, the King issued a Royal Edict announcing his abdication.
On 6th November 2008, Prince Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck was officially crowned as the 5th King of Bhutan in Punakha Dzong.
People painted streets with signs, hung festive banners, and decorated traffic circles with fresh flowers, to welcome Khesar as the King of Bhutan. He received white, yellow, red, green, and blue silk scarfs from the former King.
The Royal wedding
His Majesty announced his engagement to Jetsun Pema, a charming lady from a humble background during the opening of the parliamentary session on 20th May 2011. They got married on 13th October 2011 in Punakha Dzong.
The Royal Wedding is Bhutan’s largest media event. The Royal couple walked from Punakha to Thimphu (70 km) interacting with the people on the way. They also traveled to different parts of the country to celebrate their honeymoon with the people of Bhutan.
Dragon Queen of Bhutan
The Queen of Bhutan, Jetsun Pema is one of the youngest queens in the world. She is the ambassador to the United Nations environmental program ozone (UNEPO), the president of Bhutan Red Cross Society, and the Ability Bhutan Society.
The Crown Prince and his younger brother.
On 11th November 2015, it was announced that the King and Queen of Bhutan were expecting their first child, a son, early in 2016. Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck was born in Lingkana Palace in Thimphu, on 5th February 2016.
On 17 December 2019, it was reported that they were expecting their second child to be born in Spring 2020. Their second son was born in Lingkana Palace in Thimphu on 19 March 2020. On 30 June 2020, the Royal Family announced that the second Gyalsey had been named Jigme Ugyen Wangchuck and known as His Royal Highness Gyalsey Jigme Ugyen Wangchuck.
His Majesty fighting against the Covid-19
In March, Bhutan had its first Coronavirus case from an American tourist, and the country immediately closed all borders and international flights. In mid-August, Bhutan had the first internal case of Corona Virus detected in the border town of Phuntsholing, under the Chukha district.
The government announced an immediate lockdown throughout the country to avoid community transmission. Under the guidance of the enlightened Monarch, Bhutan became an exemplary country to fight against Covid. The effort was recently praised by Dr. Rui Paulo de Jesus, WHO representative to Bhutan,
“Today under His Majesty’s guidance, Bhutan’s response to Covid-19 is second to none and serves as a testimony of how compassionate and visionary leaders can make a difference in the world.”
Bhutanese citizens love their King unconditionally, and they are always thankful for the King’s caring and loving nature towards them. Bhutanese people also support the lockdown and Covid protocols despite facing hardships on an individual level. The King of Bhutan is a gift from heaven and His Majesty united Bhutan to fight against the virus as one nation and one people.
The Bhutanese government managed to fulfill the impossible task of preventing death from CoronaVirus. Prime Minister Dr. Lotay Tshering, a trained neurologist and surgeon, and Health Minister Dechen Wangmo, who holds a Master’s degree in Public Health from Yale University, introduced effective measures to control the spread of the Virus.
Tourism came to a halt and Bhutanese returning from abroad had to undergo three-week-long quarantine funded by the government. The Royal Government of Bhutan sealed the 699 km porous India-Bhutan border. The entry of essential goods was permitted through designated entry points, monitored by thousands of police, army personnel, foresters, and Dessungs (trained volunteers and guardians of peace).
Bhutan King carries the whole country on his back.
His Majesty initiated a US$ 400 million National Resilience Fund to finance various economic relief measures and to help businesses and households. His Majesty ordered the Royal Monetary Authority to make financial institutions defer the loan repayment period and waive interest payments for nine months. Lands were also provided to interested citizens to shift to sustainable farming until the situation improves. His Majesty ordered the stray dogs to be fed during the lockdown, so nobody in the country is hungry.
Since the first case of the coronavirus in Bhutan coincided with the start of the Bhutanese spring tourism season, the closure of borders resulted in a considerable loss of business for the tourism sector, the second largest industry in Bhutan after the hydro-energy. His Majesty provided help through his Royal Relief Kidu program, supporting 23 thousand of individuals who lost their income due to the Covid-19 crisis.
Fourth King of Bhutan “ THE GREAT FOURTH”
Jigme Singye Wangchuck was born in Dechencholing Palace in Thimphu on 11 November 1955, to the third King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck and Ashi Kezang Choden Wangchuck. His Majesty received western and traditional learning in various institutions.
He began studying at Dechencholing Palace, when he was six years old, in 1961. Soon afterward, he went to study at St. Joseph’s School, Darjeeling, in India. In 1964, he attended Heatherdown School in England, where he completed his studies in 1969.
The next phase of his formal education took place at Namselling Palace in 1969. Finally, he attended Ugyen Wangchuck Academy at Satsham Choten in Paro, which was established in 1970, and a class of selected students from all over Bhutan.
His father, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, the third King of Bhutan, appointed him as the Chairman of the National Planning Commission in 1971. On June 16, 1972, he was made the Trongsa Penlop bestowing on him the Saffron Scarf or Namza.
The 3rd Five-Year Plan (FYP) of 1971–77, was in progress when his father passed away. His Majesty was 16 at that time when he shouldered the responsibility of a King and became the youngest King in the world.
Gave Bhutan victory in 2003
In the late ’90s, the Indian separatist militants such as ULFA, KLO, and NDFB illegally camped in the dense forest of southern foothills in Bhutan. They posed a significant threat to the sovereignty of Bhutan. The talks between the militant leaders and the fourth King of Bhutan failed to produce positive results.
The Fourth King personally led the “Operation All Clear” with 6000 strong Bhutanese armies and successfully flushed out the heavily armed and experienced militants. He is the only modern leader who led his army to clear the militants who had taken over the southern foothills. The world will never witness another benevolent and courageous leader like him.
The Royal Family of Bhutan
The House of Wangchuck(The Royal Family of Bhutan) has ruled Bhutan since 1907. Before reunification, the Wangchuck family had governed the district of Trongsa as descendants of the Dungkar lineage. They eventually won over the other regional lords and earned the favor of the British Empire. The third, fourth, and fifth (current) monarchs have put the kingdom on its path toward democratization and decentralization.
Theocracy-Monarchy-Democracy
The Monarchical system of government is young in Bhutan. Bhutan was governed by the theocratic regime of Drukpa Kagyu School of Tibetan Buddhism, before introducing Monarchy.
The theocratic system became weak with time because of civil unrest and conflicts among regional leaders. Thus, Sir Ugyen Wangchuck (first King of Bhutan) came to power and united the country.
Sir Ugyen Wangchuck was a caring and benevolent King, and his successors followed his footpath to keep Bhutan a peaceful and prosperous country.
Third King, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, also known as “the Father of modern Bhutan,” started a visionary development program by building schools and roads, ultimately transforming Bhutan from feudalism into modernization.
The Fourth King, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, continued his father’s development efforts. His Majesty prioritized social, cultural, and ecological goals defined as Gross National Happiness, along with economic growth.
The fourth King also reformed the country’s political system toward liberal democracy. He retired as an absolute ruler in 2006, and his son, Fifth King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, inherited the throne with his powers delimited by the constitution.
The establishment of the constitutional monarchy is often described as King’s selfless gift to his subjects. Bhutanese were educated and made aware of the world. The monarchy remained at the “power’s apex”, by placing the elected representatives between the King and the people. All the responsibility was vested in democratic institutions.
His Majesty toured the country to meet the local representatives and the people. His Majesty granted Kidu- social security and charity schemes of financial or material support. The King of Bhutan holds the authority to grant citizenship and government land. His Majesty’s generous support towards the ordinary people made him popular, loved, and a visionary leader.
The Royal Family of Bhutan plays a vital role in shaping the day-to-day conduct of the Bhutanese people. Thanks to the godly Kings, we enjoy a rich cultural heritage and peacefulness.
Bhutan is blessed with benevolent Kings and the Royal Family. The Wangchuck dynasty helped to develop the country from scratch. Bhutan still is a safe kingdom with zero deaths while most countries are getting plagued by the Covid-19. The people in the quarantine centers are well fed and looked after by the government of Bhutan. The Wangchuck Dynasty has always been gracious to the country and its citizens, making happiness prevail for all time.
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