The 31-year-old king of Bhutan has finally tied nuptial knot with a commoner, who is 10 years junior to the former, in a colorful ceremony in Punakha today.
Thursday’s wedding took place amid clouds of incense and chanting by monks in accordance with the Buddhist culture.
The world’s youngest King, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck – an Oxford graduate who came to power in 2008 at the start of democracy in Bhutan – crowned his queen, Jetsun Pema, at the end of a series of rituals in the 17th-century fortified monastery chosen for the occasion.
It is reportedly learnt that Pema is a daughter of an airline pilot widely admired for her beauty and her impact on the love-struck monarch.
The celebrations began as early as 8:20am – a time set by royal astrologers – when the king walked into the courtyard of the monastery in the old capital of Punakha. Wearing the royal yellow sash, he proceeded up the high staircase inside.
After a brief purification ceremony, the couple walked hand-in-hand, smiling to the inner sanctum of the monastery where an hour of blessings, prostrations and prayers culminated with the queen taking the throne.
The wedding captivated the nation, which was growing impatient with its king’s lack of urgency to tie the knot. Children composed poems, flight attendants practiced celebratory dances and posters of the couple were almost everywhere across the country.
The couples are scheduled to return Thimphu on Friday to celebrate the wedding in Thimphu on Saturday, October 15.
Congratulation HM the 5th King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and the Queen Jetsum Pema!
Parangkush
Philadelphia, US
Even her mother-in-laws(all four of them) were commoners before their marriage to King JSW.
Congratulation HM the 5th King of Bhutan Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and the Queen Jetsum Pema.
Congratulations and Tashi Delek.
When a daughter of Subba marries Biswa, she becomes Biswa. So, when a daughter of a commoner marries Royal in Bhutan, we expect her to become a part of Royal family.
Congratulation/Tashi Delek for the marriage.
As saying goes, “Not all scars show, not all wounds heal. Sometimes you can’t always see, the pain someone feels”. I share the same sentiments, as large chunk of Bhutanese Citizens. The Bhutanese in exile couldn’t enjoy and share this moment in their homeland, as they are evicted. While, I have a feeling that the future monarch, shall be Leader of Secular and Pro- people’s Monarch in true sense, as he is going to be offspring of western educated modern couples. A matter of surprise to me was, I couldn’t see/read, the attendance of the foreign state heads/dignitaries. Even form India. Perhaps, answer may be the marriage is a family issue. If so, why is it in a national stage?
Cogratulation Bhutanese Monarch and the Queen!I remember the queen of Bhutan had completed high school from Darjeeling when I was graduating my B.Sc from the same town.The queen has better familiarity with Nepali speaking people and the king studied in Boston,MA, USA and Oxford, London (powerful countries of freedom and justice).I hope this combination will help to settle the Refugee problem and provide people’s democracy to fulfill the goal of gross national happiness of Bhutan.
The wedding of a Royal couple is not just a family or private affair; it is a national affair. That is why it is in a national stage. It is an affair that ensures continuity of an institution of monarchy in Bhutan.
As a commitment made by His Majesty the king to keep the wedding simple and private for the Bhutanese citizens, there is no reason to make hue and cry over why foreign dignitaries were not invited. Again, the wedding is a national affair, not an international affair.
First I congratulate His Majesty and Queen Pema on their wedding. A beautiful couple, definitely Bhutanese can be proud of.
I read the wedding first in Washington Post, as a Buddhist and journalist, I was interested its developments and I looked for more news. I found well written informative articles in foreign press, and in the same time, I am surprised why the local newspapers and other media showed a lukeworm attitude towards this royal wedding. This is anyway a good opportunity for any media to capitalise their product world over, I guess. As a senior journalist in Sri Lanka, I should say you people are still not late to catch the event. Why not get propaganda for Bhutan, attract visitors and shine yourselves on the world map.
First I congratulate His Majesty and Queen Pema on their wedding. A beautiful young couple, definitely Bhutanese can be proud of.
I read the wedding first in Washington Post, as a Buddhist and journalist, I was interested its developments and I looked for more news. I found several well written informative articles and photographs in foreign press, and in the same time, I am surprised why the local newspapers and other Bhutanese media showed a lukewarm attitude towards this royal wedding. This is anyway a good opportunity for any media to capitalise their product world over, I guess. As a senior journalist in Sri Lanka, I should say you people are still not late to catch the event. Why not get propaganda for Bhutan through this royal pageantry, attract visitors and shine yourselves on the world map.
Congratulation, His majesty the king and New queen of Druk-Yul.
People have big hope upon you to take Bhutan to its real height of Happiness. Signs and symbolic approaches are seen from your majesty’s part to prove -you are really the king of people. May God bless you. Granting citizenship to otherwise deprived people in Samtse and respecting the aspiration of people in their belief by founding a Hindu Temple in the capital. Morning shows the Day. Keep it up.
People being tortured mentally,socially,culturally,ethnically and psychologically under the rule and command of Fourth King may breathe the breeze of peace during your reign.
Tashi Delek
Cong!!! both of you(King and queen) and all Bhutanese people.
This is the sign of most blessed union (between the King and his subjects). We do not need other omen to know about the brightness of our future. This happy marriage carries the aspiration of the united Bhutan and its inhabitants to new horizan of peace and prosperity.
Bhutan is divinely shown that the odd make up the perfect even, indispensable. (1) Gongsar Ugen Wangchuk founded the nation state, (3) Father of Modern Bhutan Jigme Dorji Wangchuk founded the nation with modern amenities and (5) HM JKNW is defender of democracy, peace and justice to the nation state of Druk-Yul. We are happy in the marriage of His Majesty that he is determined to give us the continuance of guardianship and security for prosperity to the future.
happy married life long lived queen & king
Congratulations to His Majesty the king Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and the Queen Jetsun Pema.It is a moment of joy for every Bhutanese. May your leadership as a guardian of the nation be more visionary with the joining of intellect and rightful thoughts of Her Majesty the queen in leading the nation. Wish you a happy married life and a dynamic leadership to the nation.
I donot understand why we need kings and queens in Bhutan?
The President,Druk National Congress (Democratic)take this privilege as one of the aspiring organizations to express words of Wedding Felicitations to the Royal Couples in the following lines:
May the royal wedding bring peace, progress and development to the people of Bhutan, who look forward to embracing real happiness through real change.
May our King’s assurances be fulfilled and let people cherish their inalienable rights, justice and the true happiness.
May good legacy of his reign cherish throughout length and breadth of Druk Gyalkhab and rule the country so long as the sun and the moon shine in the universe.
May the royal couple’s wisdom shine on the people and give their lasting love and affection that would be immeasurable like that of the river that flows out from the high Himalayas.
May the royal wedding emerge as the tutelary deities’ blessings of sanctification and transform the royal unison as symbol of divine understanding of the exalted values of peace and help keep away conflicts among the diversity in the days to come.
Last, but not the least, may justice prevail and the rightful subjects be granted their inalienable rights to repatriation through understanding and just reconciliation.
First I Congratulations to His Majesty the king Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and the Queen Jetsun Pema.
Your Majestry every citizen of your country inside or outside have great hope on you. May your leadership have the gravety to solve all kind of problems in the country and let the poor people feel that you have the vision on them,
I and we always like to see our king one step ahead than other in the globle world.
I pray for the successfull couple to be evergreen.
Thank you
Ghana shyam
A human wedding an other human. It is natural and it has no meaning to separate as commoner and superior. The power, authority,and which inheritted from parents and grand parents doesnot has too much meaning regarding political power confer on him.If has set a good example between the royal families and commoner.
The Druk National Congress extends its Tashi Delek to His Majesty, Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuk on his royal nuptial to Royal bride, Jetsun Pema.
The DNC further prays for the long and prosperous life of the royal couples.
DNC office
Boudha, Kathmandu
Nepal
@ Dilip Rai on why do we need kings and queens in Bhutan – WELL,WHY NOT?
Congratulation to His Majesty,Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuk and Queen Jetsum Pema on their wedding.I hope a perfect couple would definitely bring great changes in the country Bhutan.
By Prem Giri,UK
Dilip rai,
May b u dont want king and queen but we bhutanese do…. And they r part of our life as much as a corrupt Neta for u…
congrats jigmekhesar namgyel wangchuck well educated royal king of bhutan andqueen jetsun pema .
my best wishes for happy married life to both of you.
congrats and tashi delek to king and queen,
am sorry to coment on few of above post,yes our kings marrage is a national issues and it should be a national issue because our king is our god, our father and everything.on top our country people has a concept of king not country.
in later case to a question ‘WHY KING’ we definetly needs king and we feel more safe and secure with what we have now then what is unknown future.
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