Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck

On October 13, 2011, he married Jetsun Pema in Punakha Dzong and bestowed her with the Crown of the Druk Gyaltsuen received from the sacred ‘Machhen Temple’ of the Dzong, thus formally proclaiming her as the ‘Queen of the Kingdom of Bhutan’.

On February 5, 2016, their son, ‘His Royal Highness The Gyalsey’ was born.

His Majesty was born on February 21, 1980 to Jigme Singye Wangchuck, the fourth ‘Dragon King’ of Bhutan, and his third wife, Queen Tshering Yangdon, as their eldest son. His younger brother is Prince Jigme Dorji and younger sister is Princess Dechen Yangzom. He has three half-brothers and four half-sisters.

He attended schools in Bhutan and completed his Higher Secondary studies from ‘Yangchenphug High School’ in Bhutan. Thereafter he went to Massachusetts and attended boarding schools. He first joined the ‘Phillips Academy’ there and later attended the ‘Cushing Academy’ from where he completed his graduation in 1999. He also studied at the ‘Wheaton College’ in Massachusetts.

He then moved to the United Kingdom and studied at the ‘Magdalen College’, ‘University of Oxford’ earning a degree in ‘Foreign Service Programme’ (FSP).

As the ‘Crown Prince’ (more popular as ‘Dasho Khesar’) he travelled around the Kingdom along with his father, the fourth and the then King of Bhutan, meeting and interacting with the people of the country.

Encouraged by his father, he travelled to different countries as the ‘Crown Prince’ and attended several international events representing Bhutan and its people.

Jigme Singye Wangchuck, the fourth and the then King of Bhutan, made an announcement in December 2005 intending to abdicate the throne in 2008 in favour of his son Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck. The fourth King declared that he would initiate to hand over responsibility to Khesar soon.

In this pursuit, Jigme Singye Wangchuck issued a Royal Edict on December 9, 2006, declaring his relinquishment and passed on the monarchy of Bhutan to Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, who became the fifth King of Bhutan.

His official coronation was done in Punakha on November 1, 2008 in a grand coronation event, which was graced by the presence of thousands of dignitaries from around the world.

After taking over the reign, in pursuit of democratization of Bhutan, His Majesty started to preside over the parliament in its last sessions. Matters like land reform, electoral laws and other such significant subjects were assessed.

In his endeavour to interact with the people of Bhutan regarding the ‘Draft Constitution of Bhutan’ as also to encourage them to take part in the forthcoming democratic efforts, he toured widely across the nation.