Birth Anniversary of His Majesty the King

To be born to the King, you have to be some reincarnation of the learned monk, similarly only a destiny of women can be queen.

The People’s King Druk Gyalpo Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck was born on February 21, 1980. The day corresponds to the Iron Monkey year of the Bhutanese Lunar Calendar. The People’s King is the eldest of His Majesty Fourth King Jigme Singye Wangchuck and Her Majesty the Queen, Ashi Tshering Yangdon Wangchuck. Though the eldest son and the heir to the Throne he has always been very humble.

To mark the occasion, Royal Government of Bhutan has granted February 21, 22 and 23 as national holidays every year. On these days, schools, government agencies, corporate sectors, private, monastic bodies, etc, celebrate the days.

After completing his higher secondary studies at Yangchenphug School in Bhutan, the young Prince went for higher studies and graduated from Cushing Academy and Wheaton College, USA. In 2000, His Royal Highness continued further education in Magdalen College, Oxford University, UK. He studied Foreign Service Programme and did an M.Phil. Programme in Politics at Oxford University before going on to the National Defence College in India and the Kennedy School of Governance in USA.

On October 7, 2005, during the 20^th anniversary of University of New Brunswick’s relationship with Bhutan, His Royal Highness received an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Law from the University of New Brunswick, Fredericton in Canada. Later, Rangsit University in Bangkok, Thailand also awarded His Royal Highness with an honorary doctorate in Philosophy, Politics and Economics. These honorary degrees offered by internationally renowned universities is a revelation of the contribution made by the Prince in leadership, wisdom and strategies for development in his country and enhancing his people’s quality of life.

Since his childhood, His Royal Highness was trained in statecraft. He accompanied his father the Fourth Druk Gyalpo and attended meetings and special occasions. He was named the Crown Prince of Bhutan at the age of 17. His Royal Highness represented Bhutan at the 27^th UN General Assembly on May 8, 2002, and addressed the leaders of 190 member countries during the UN special session for children, one of the most important international conferences ever held to create a world fit for children.

On October 21, 2004, His Majesty Fourth Druk Gyalpo gave a red scarf to the His Royal Highness Dasho Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and bestowed the title Trongsa Poenlop, a post that is traditionally taken by the Crown Prince before the accession to the golden throne, making him the 16^th Trongsa Poenlop of the nation. Even today, every Crown Prince of Bhutan has to be formally investiture as a Trongsa Penlop before becoming the hereditary King of Bhutan with the title of Druk Gyalpo. The institution of the Trongsa Penlop came to signify the true heritage to the Bhutanese Throne and the investiture of the Trongsa Penlop became the formal declaration of this status of the Crown Prince.

He served as the Chief Patron of the Scouts Association of Bhutan showing his unwavering faith in youth. His Royal Highness is also the Chancellor of the Royal University of Bhutan.

In December 2006, at the age of twenty-six, the His Royal Highness Dasho Crown Prince Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck took over the helm of the Kingdom as the Fifth Druk Gyalpo of Bhutan. His succession to the throne as fifth heredity King of Bhutan was celebrated in a simple ceremony.  After two years, on November 2008, His Majesty was formally crowned as Fifth Druk Gyalpo of Bhutan in the Tashichoedzong and the grand coronation ceremony was held at Changlimithang stadium, which drew a large gathering of both Bhutanese people and also the international high dignitaries.