King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck is one of the youngest kings in the world, who came to the throne in 2008 at the age of 28. As a King, he decided to establish the mindfully democratic government managed by the Prime Minister, which made impression among international politics. At first, the people were against strongly to the decision because they spend their definite loyalty to the King. Fortunately, the election occurred smoothly due to royal prestige and trust in young king. There were difficulties so the King and the government launched Department of Happiness, which will be in charge of controlling and maintain the satisfaction and happiness of Bhutan. People's happiness is the development goal of Bhutan cabinet, not the wealth of country.
King Khesar is loved and respected by all his people in Bhutan Kingdom. Before becoming a King, he spent 26 days to walk around country to meet all citizens, trekked for days to the toughest mountain roads to visit poor remote villages and communicated as friends with villagers. He slept in village tent under snow storm, had simple meals and kept up his journey on the thick snow layers on the high mountains. The King always cares how his people live and feel. He often invites them to home in the capital and listens to their stories.
King Khesar is widely known as smart, calm and kind to everyone since he was very young. At age of 17, he prepared to leave country for study abroad in India and UK after that. At this time, he met Jetsun Pema, who became Queen of Bhutan in 2011. In a royal picnic, a royal pilot took his little daughter with him, Jetsun Pema. She was 7 years old then, pretty and so clever in treating the royal. Jetsun and Prince Khesar both got high interest in art and basketball. During the picnic, they played basketball and drew lovely nature paintings. Prince Khesar said Jetsun had drawn beautifully, it was incredible those paintings were drawn by 7 year old girl. After few hours being together, the Prince stood on his knees and said to Jetsun, “When we grow up, if you are single and not married, I am single and not married and we still love each other, I would like you to be my wife”. Then he started his studying journey in Oxford. When Jetsun was 15, her parents sent her to a college in London. And this was when their love grew up. Jetsun loves basketball and used to be basketball team leader and achieved an eloquence prize. The King often talks about his Queen with admiration and love. He never minds publicizing his romantic love as well.
And now, Jetsun Pema is the Queen of Bhutan. She loves the people as the King does and she is very hard-working at doing charity works. The King and The Queen usually walk around to visit the people and he always hold her hands. That has been his hobbit since they first knew each other. The young people in Bhutan start copying this.
Their love story is actually a fairy tale on the Himalayas, a happy ending for a beautiful love in the happiest country in the world.
Martin Wynn
