Jetsun Pema, also known as Druk Gyaltsuen or the dragon queen, is the queen consort of Bhutan. Hailing from a respected and noble family in Thimphu, Bhutan, her engagement with the current king, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, was announced when she was just twenty years old. The king believes that a queen should be a good human being, and he saw these qualities in Jetsun Pema, describing her as warm-hearted and kind. Their wedding took place shortly after, and she became Queen Jetsun Pema Wangchuck. Despite polygamy being allowed in Bhutan, the king has stated that he will not marry again, making Pema his only wife. Four years later, they welcomed their first son, Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck, who is set to become the heir to the throne.
Quick Facts
- Also Known As: Jetsun Pema Wangchuck
- Age: 33 Years, 33 Year Old Females
- Spouse/Ex-: Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck (m. 2011)
- Father: Dhondup Gyaltshen
- Mother: Aum Sonam Choki
- Siblings: Jigme Namgyal, Serchen Doma, Thinlay Norbu, Yeatso Lhamo
- Children: Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck
- Education: Regent’s University London, The Lawrence School, Sanawar
Marriage & Rise to Fame
Jetsun Pema first gained attention in May 2011 when the king announced his engagement with her during the Parliament’s seventh season. He expressed that it was time for him to marry and discussed the important qualities he believed were required in a queen. He stated that Pema, being warm and kind-hearted, would make the country very fortunate to have her as a queen. The royal wedding between Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Jetsun Pema took place on October 13, 2011. The wedding was held at the Punakha Dzong, the second largest dzong structure in the country, located in Punakha. The ceremony followed traditional Buddhist style and included blessings of the guardian deities. Notable guests at the wedding included Rahul Gandhi, General Secretary of the Indian National Congress, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, former King of Bhutan, MK Narayanan, Governor of West Bengal, and Jyoti Madhavrao Scindia, Indian Minister of Industry and Commerce. Dutch delegates were also present and presented the couple with tulips on behalf of the Netherlands. Public ceremonies were held in Thimphu and Paro after the initial ceremony in Punakha.
Accomplishments & Advocacy
After her marriage, Pema accompanied the king on several visits abroad to countries such as India, Japan, Singapore, and the UK. She is an advocate for environmental issues and serves as the Patron of the Royal Society for the Protection of Nature. Pema is also the Patron of the Bhutan Kidney Association and the Bhutan Kidney Foundation. Since 2016, she has been serving as the President of the Bhutan Red Cross Society. In addition to her advocacy work, Pema is often considered a fashion icon due to her vibrant traditional clothing.
Personal Life
Queen Jetsun Pema was born on June 4, 1990, in Thimphu, Bhutan, to Dhondup Gyaltshen and Aum Sonam Choki. She is the second oldest of five children. Pema attended various schools including Changangkha Lower Secondary School in Thimpu, Bhutan, St. Joseph’s Convent in Kalimpong, West Bengal, India, and The Lawrence School in Himachal Pradesh, India. She later pursued her higher studies at Regent’s College in London. Pema is fluent in Dzongkha, the National Language of Bhutan, as well as Hindi and English. She gave birth to her first child, the heir to King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, on February 5, 2016. The child was named Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck.