Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck 3682763 226184677 2008-07-17T05:55:08Z RGTraynor 270405 per [[WP:MOS]], Replaced: December of 2 → December 2 using [[Project:AutoWikiBrowser|AWB]] {|align=right |{{Infobox Monarch | name = Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck | title = [[List of rulers of Bhutan|King of Bhutan]] | image = [[Image:HRH the Crown Prince of Bhutan.png|200px]] | reign = [[14 December]] [[2006]] – present | coronation = [[?]] [[2008]] | predecessor = [[Jigme Singye Wangchuck]] | successor = | suc-type = | heir = | consort = | issue = | royal house = [[House of Wangchuck]] | royal anthem = | father = [[Jigme Singye Wangchuck]] | mother = [[Tshering Yangdon]] | birth_date = {{bda|1980|02|21|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Dechenchholing Palace]],<BR> [[Thimphu]], [[Bhutan]] | death_date = | death_place = | buried = }} |- | {{Royal Family of Bhutan}} |} '''Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck''' (born [[February 21]] [[1980]]) is the fifth [[List of rulers of Bhutan|Dragon King]] of [[Bhutan]] and head of the [[House of Wangchuck|Wangchuck dynasty]].<ref>''[[Boston Globe]]'' [http://www.boston.com/news/world/asia/articles/2006/12/18/bhutans_new_king_committed_to_democracy/?rss_id=Boston.com+%2F+News Bhutan's new king committed to democracy], [[December 18]], [[2006]].</ref> He is the world's youngest [[head of state]]. == Family == Khesar is the oldest son of the Bhutanese king [[Jigme Singye Wangchuck]], and his father's third wife, Queen (Ashi) [[Tshering Yangdon]]. He has a younger full sister and brother and also four half-sisters and three half-brothers by his father's other three wives (all of his father's wives are sisters). He is unmarried. == Education == After completing his basic education in Bhutan, Khesar studied abroad at [[Phillips Academy]] (Andover), the [[Cushing Academy]] and [[Wheaton College, Massachusetts|Wheaton College]] in [[Massachusetts]], [[United States]], before graduating from [[Magdalen College, Oxford|Magdalen College]], [[Oxford University]], [[United Kingdom]], where he completed the Foreign Service Program and an MPhil in Politics.<ref>[http://www.raonline.ch/pages/bt/pol/bt_polpenlop01.html His Royal Highness Crown Prince Dasho Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck]</ref> He has travelled abroad, officially representing Bhutan on several occasions and has an active role in numerous cultural, educational and economic organizations. == Accession to the throne == In December 2005, King [[Jigme Singye Wangchuck]] [http://2008.bhutan-360.com/2007/09/19/historic-national-day-address/ announced] his intention to [[abdicate]] in his son's favour in 2008, and that he would begin handing over responsibility to him immediately.<ref>''[[BBC]]'', [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/4539308.stm "Bhutan king announces abdication"], [[December 18]], [[2005]].</ref> On [[December 14]], [[2006]], he [http://2008.bhutan-360.com/2007/10/05/the-royal-decree-announcing-the-5th-king-of-bhutan/ announced his immediate abdication] and transfer of the throne to Jigme Khesar Wangchuck. == One year on == The young king began his unusual reign overseeing the [[democratization]] of his country, by presiding over the last sessions of the present [[Parliament of Bhutan|parliament]] where electoral laws, land reform and other important issues were deliberated.<ref>[http://kuenselonline.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=8573 Kuensel Newspaper - His Majesty addresses the 87th session of the National Assembly<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>. He stated that the responsibility of this generation for Bhutanese was to ensure the success of democracy. He also travelled extensively around the country encouraging participation in the upcoming democratic exercises <ref>[http://kuenselonline.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=8356 Kuensel Newspaper - His Majesty to attend mock election in Dungkhar<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> and speaking mainly to the youth of Bhutan on the need for Bhutanese to strive for greater standards whether in education, business, civil service and the need for people of small country to work harder than others <ref>[http://kuenselonline.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=8317 Kuensel Newspaper - His Majesty speaks on Bhutan’s future<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>. He also signed a new treaty of friendship with [[India]] in February 2007, replacing the 1949 treaty. Many government initiatives were undertaken by the new king with a view to strengthen the system in preparation for the democratic changes in 2008. Plans for a grand [[coronation]] in 2008 were shot down by the king who asked for informal get-togethers around the country instead of a formal event in the [[Thimphu|capital]]. == Popularity abroad == As Crown Prince of Bhutan, he attended [[King of Thailand|Thai King]] [[Bhumibol Adulyadej]]'s [[Bhumibol Adulyadej's 60th Anniversary Celebrations|60th Anniversary Celebrations]] on [[June 12]]-[[June 13]], [[2006]] in [[Bangkok]] along with royals from 25 countries. Known in the [[Thai]] press as Prince Jigme, the prince, at 26 the youngest of the visiting royals, caused a sensation, giving rise to a legion of female fans in Thailand. The [[Media of Thailand|Thai press]] dubbed him "[[Prince Charming]]" and ran daily stories and photos about him and tourism in Bhutan for several weeks after he had departed [[Thailand]].<ref>''[[The New Paper]]'', [http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/news/story/0,4136,108626,00.html "Red hot Prince Charming"], [[June 21]], [[2006]].</ref> A [[poll]] run by the ABAC polling center at [[Assumption University, Thailand|Assumption University]] listed Khesar as the most popular of the visiting royals. However, the poll was thought by some to be making light of a solemn occasion involving the Thai monarch. Hours after the poll was released, the ABAC center's director, Nophadol Kanika, retracted its results.<ref>''[[The Nation (Thailand)|The Nation]]'', [http://nationmultimedia.com/2006/06/22/headlines/headlines_30007046.php "Abac backs down on poll on royals"], [[June 22]], [[2006]].</ref> Internet visitors to the Thai [[Internet]] forum [[Pantip.com]] flooded the website with postings about the crown prince. Among the posts is a photo of him with an unknown woman. [[Thai (language)|Thai-language]] daily newspapers later featured the photo.<ref>''[[Thai Rath]]'', page 1, top left corner (print edition), [[June 28]], [[2006]].</ref> The country's Department of Special Investigation launched a probe into the source of the image, whose publication is considered to be an invasion of privacy, and threatened to prosecute anyone who distributed it in the future.<ref>''[[ThaiDay]]'', [http://www.manager.co.th/IHT/ViewNews.aspx?NewsID=9490000083310 "DSI sweeps into action over Jigme photograph"], [[June 28]], [[2006]].</ref> In November 2006, he returned to Thailand to dedicate the Bhutan Garden at the Royal Flora Ratchapruek Exhibition in [[Chiang Mai Province]]. He also accepted an honourary degree from [[Rangsit University]] in [[Bangkok]].<ref name="The Nation 2">{{cite web | title=The Nation | work= Bhutan prince charms fans at floral expo | url=http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/11/25/headlines/headlines_30019942.php | accessdate=December 20 | accessyear=2006}}</ref><ref name="The Nation 3">{{cite web | title=The Nation | work=Prince, Thailand have mutual adoration | url=http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/11/27/headlines/headlines_30020045.php | accessdate=December 20 | accessyear=2006}}</ref> == References == {{reflist}} == External links == *[http://2008.bhutan-360.com/2007/12/19/national-day-address-2007/ The 5th King's 2007 National Day address] *[http://www.keystobhutan.com/bhutan/bhutan_king_penlop.php The Chhoetse Penlop's Enthronement] *[http://www.bhutanmajestictravel.com/bhutan-100-years-of-monarchy/ More about His Majesty The Fifth King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuk] *[http://www.keystobhutan.com/bhutan/bhutan_king_speech.php The King of Bhutan's historic 2005 National day address] *[http://www.raonline.ch/pages/bt/visin/bt_royalfam07.html Bhutan's Royal Family] *[http://www.bhutannewsonline.com/monarchy.html More Royal Family Background] *[http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20983056-7583,00.html Tim Fischer: Wise heads prevail in capital of happiness] *[http://bhutan2008.blogspot.com/search/label/National%20Day%20Celebration%20of%20Bhutan His Majesty The King Historic 2006 National Day Address] *[http://bhutan2008.blogspot.com/2007/05/picture-of-his-majesty-jigme-khesar.html His Majesty's Pictures] {{start box}} {{s-hou|[[House of Wangchuck]]|21 February|1980||}} {{s-reg|}} {{s-bef|before=[[Jigme Singye Wangchuck]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[List of rulers of Bhutan|King of Bhutan]]|years=2006 – present}} {{s-inc|heir=[[Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck]]}} {{end box}} [[Category:1980 births]] [[Category:Current national leaders]] [[Category:Bhutanese monarchs]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Reigning monarchs]] [[ar:جيغمي خيشار نمجيل وانغشاك]] [[de:Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck]] [[et:Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck]] [[el:Γίγκμε Κεσάρ Ναμγκιάλ Βανγκτσούκ]] [[es:Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck]] [[eo:Jigme Singye Wangchuck]] [[fr:Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck]] [[ko:지그메 케사르 남기엘 왕축]] [[hi:जिग्मे खेसर नामग्याल वांग्चुक]] [[hr:Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck]] [[id:Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck]] [[it:Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck]] [[nl:Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk]] [[ja:ジグミ・ケサル・ナムゲル・ワンチュク]] [[no:Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck]] [[pl:Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck]] [[pt:Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck]] [[ru:Джигме Кхесар Намгьял Вангчук]] [[fi:Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck]] [[sv:Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck]] [[th:สมเด็จพระราชาธิบดีจิกมี เคเซอร์ นัมเกล วังชุก]] [[tr:Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck]] [[zh:吉格梅·凯萨尔·纳姆耶尔·旺楚克]]