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A look at the life of the new king of Bhutan

(Reuters)
Thu, 6 Nov 2008-06:48pm , IANS

Oxford-educated Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk on Thursday became the world's youngest reigning monarch of the newest democracy of Bhutan.

THIMPHU: Oxford-educated Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk on Thursday became the world's youngest reigning monarch of the newest democracy Bhutan after the fourth king Jigme Singye Wangchuk handed over the Raven Crown to him.

The 28-year-old king has thus stepped on a new stage of the royal lineage in this Shangri-la of jaw-dropping beauty.

The oldest son of former king Jigme Singye Wangchuck and his third wife Ashi Tshering Yangdon, the bachelor king has a younger full sister and brother and four half-sisters and three half-brothers by his father's three other wives. The new king's father had married four sisters.

Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk studied in the US and at Oxford University, where he completed an MA in politics.

As he was partly educated in Britain and has travelled abroad, the king has continued the policy of limited modernisation adopted by his father. He has sought to lift the "Gross National Happiness" of Bhutan by preserving its traditions and environment.

As a prince, he followed a simple lifestyle and that has not changed even after he was enthroned in December 2006 after his father abdicated in his favour. Last week, the young king was seen mingling with locals in the streets of the capital Thimphu.

After completing his basic education in Bhutan, Khesar studied abroad at Phillips Academy (Andover), the Cushing Academy, and Wheaton College in Massachusetts, US, before graduating from St Peter's College, Oxford University, Britain, where he completed the foreign service programme and an MPhil in politics.

He has officially represented Bhutan on several occasions abroad. Even as crown prince, he had an active role in numerous cultural, educational and economic organisations.

During a visit to Thailand in 2006 as crown prince, he was dubbed by the Thai press as Prince Charming. Local newspapers claimed that his visit caused a sensation, giving rise to a legion of female fans in Thailand.

The new king on several public fora has promised to push forward his father's dream of a modern Bhutan where the motto would be to believe in the principle of Gross National Happiness rather than Gross Domestic Product as an index of prosperity.

Loved and respected by one and all in the country of 6,50,000 people, the new king is seen as a messiah of the poor and the downtrodden.

 
 

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