King Jigme and Queen Jetsun of Bhutan made a rare appearance with two of their children, Prince Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck, ten, and Prince Jigme Ugyen Wangchuck, six, this week for a joint outing.
The family was seen visiting the Royal Textile Academy in Thimphu to view an exhibition honoring the 70th birthday of King Jigme’s father, King Jigme Singye Wangchuck, known as His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo.
The exhibition, titled ‘The Visionary Monarch: A Tribute to the Fourth King’s Enduring Legacy’, was opened back in June with King Jigme’s son, Prince Jigme Namgyel, known as the Dragon Prince, carrying out the honours.
On this occasion, the two young princes stole the show as they joined their parents at the exhibition, wearing traditional outfits and pairs of knee-high black socks. The pair were seen posing with their parents in front of artworks commemorating their grandfather, who abdicated the throne in 2006.
However, one member of their family was missing as two-year-old Princess Sonam wasn’t seen at the museum. Although no reason was given for her absence, very young royals are rarely seen on official engagements due to their age.
The Fourth Druk Gyalpo was a revolutionary monarch during his 32 years on the throne, transforming Bhutan from an absolute monarchy into a democratic constitutional monarchy. He also oversaw the introduction of the Gross Happiness Index in the country, helping it to become one of the happiest nations in the world.
© kingjigmekhesar and queenjetsunpemaHe abdicated the throne on 9 December 2006 as Bhutan prepared to transition away from being an absolute monarchy. The abdication came two years before the country held its first-ever national elections.
At the time, he told a crowd of 8,000: “The best time to change a political system is when the country enjoys stability and peace. Why wait for a revolution? Why crown an heir only when the nation is in mourning for a late king?”
Who is Princess Sonam?
Princess Sonam is the only daughter of Jigme and Jetsun, and she was born on 9 September 2023. Her name was kept from the public for three months, as it’s tradition for the name to be kept private until a naming ceremony is held.
On her first birthday, the little girl looked sweet in a series of photos published by her parents. In one image, she was captured wearing a beautiful traditional outfit in a magenta hue as she candidly looked away from the camera. The second captured her beaming as she clapped her hands together.
© ROM-KARMA, Bhutan Royal FamilyThe family clearly dote on the youngest member, and King Jigme was seen holding her close during a trip to Mongolia in 2024.
Their photographer, Gan Ulzii Gonchig, spoke about being chosen as the Bhutan royal family’s official photographer on their Mongolia state visit, saying: “I was honoured to have the opportunity to photograph Their Majesties the King and Queen of Bhutan and their family in such a beautiful landscape of Mongolia, and in an intimate setting.
“I was amazed by how down-to-earth and friendly they were, which I had really not expected from the King and Queen of a country. They were very kind and certainly very easy to photograph. Seeing them, I think Bhutan must really be a place of happiness.”
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