In this May 7 photo provided by Bhutan's Royal Office for Media, Bhutan's 31-year-old Oxford-educated monarch, Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck, left, poses with his fiancée 20-year-old Jetsun Pema, a student at London's Regent College, in Thimphu, Bhutan. (AP Photo)
The King of Bhutan has announced he is engaged to a student. Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck plans to wed 20-year-old Jetsun Pema, who studies at London's Regent's College and is to become queen of the Himalayan nation's population of 700,000. The 31-year-old sovereign - who has ruled since 2008 - revealed the engagement during a speech in parliament that was attended by members of the royal family and elected representatives, and plans to marry this autumn.
Jetsun is an alumna of Lawrence School Sanawar in Himachal Pradesh. As the school readies for a royal celebration, Jetsun's teacher, Neelam Tahlan recalls her as a spirited girl. At Sanawar, the news of royal wedding has stirred quite a buzz. Nearly a decade younger than the king, Jetsun joined school on April 13, 2006, as class-XI student. She studied English, history, geography, economics and painting and completed her plus two on March 31, 2008. "I have been looking forward to the future, but now my eyesight is going bad and the crystal ball is always cloudy, accept for when I look into the past. Thank you Sanawar for the memories," Jetsun had said during the valedictory address in Sanawar.
According to Bhutan's main newspaper the Kuensel, he said: "As king, it is now time to marry. "I cannot say how she might appear to the people, but to me, she is the one. " ''The wedding will be in accordance with age-old tradition, to seek the blessings of our guardian deities,'' King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck said in an address to Bhutan's parliament. ''I ask the government not to make any plans for a grand celebration. The happiness of my beloved father and the blessings of our people will give me the greatest joy and happiness.''
At 31 years of age, the king, who earned the sobriquet ''Prince Charming'' in his youth, has ruled Bhutan since 2008 and played a key role in ushering in democracy to the small Himalayan country famous for making the happiness of its people a priority.
For his bride he has chosen 20-year-old Jetsun Pema, who was educated in India and the UK, and has recently started accompanying the king on his duties around the country. A commoner, she list her hobbies as fine arts, painting and basketball. On his decision to wed, the monarch said simply that ''as king, it is now time for me to marry'' adding that the nuptials would be later this year.
''Now, many will have their own idea of what a queen should be like that she should be uniquely beautiful, intelligent and graceful,'' he said. ''I think with experience and time, one can grow into a dynamic person in any walk of life with the right effort. For the queen, what is most important is that at all times, as an individual she must be a good human being, and as queen, she must be unwavering in her commitment to serve the people and country.
''As my queen, I have found such a person and her name is Jetsun Pema. While she is young, she is warm and kind in heart and character. These qualities together with the wisdom that will come with age and experience will make her a great servant to the nation.''
Last year the king was selected to represent the prestigious college at the Model United Nations event in New York, where students are taught skills in diplomacy. A statement put out by the college said: "Jetsun is a very popular student and all of the staff and students at Regent's College would like to offer her and the King their congratulations following their engagement. "This is a happy time for the young couple and we wish them all the best in their future together."
Jetsun is an alumna of Lawrence School Sanawar in Himachal Pradesh. As the school readies for a royal celebration, Jetsun's teacher, Neelam Tahlan recalls her as a spirited girl. At Sanawar, the news of royal wedding has stirred quite a buzz. Nearly a decade younger than the king, Jetsun joined school on April 13, 2006, as class-XI student. She studied English, history, geography, economics and painting and completed her plus two on March 31, 2008. "I have been looking forward to the future, but now my eyesight is going bad and the crystal ball is always cloudy, accept for when I look into the past. Thank you Sanawar for the memories," Jetsun had said during the valedictory address in Sanawar.
According to Bhutan's main newspaper the Kuensel, he said: "As king, it is now time to marry. "I cannot say how she might appear to the people, but to me, she is the one. " ''The wedding will be in accordance with age-old tradition, to seek the blessings of our guardian deities,'' King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck said in an address to Bhutan's parliament. ''I ask the government not to make any plans for a grand celebration. The happiness of my beloved father and the blessings of our people will give me the greatest joy and happiness.''
At 31 years of age, the king, who earned the sobriquet ''Prince Charming'' in his youth, has ruled Bhutan since 2008 and played a key role in ushering in democracy to the small Himalayan country famous for making the happiness of its people a priority.
For his bride he has chosen 20-year-old Jetsun Pema, who was educated in India and the UK, and has recently started accompanying the king on his duties around the country. A commoner, she list her hobbies as fine arts, painting and basketball. On his decision to wed, the monarch said simply that ''as king, it is now time for me to marry'' adding that the nuptials would be later this year.
''Now, many will have their own idea of what a queen should be like that she should be uniquely beautiful, intelligent and graceful,'' he said. ''I think with experience and time, one can grow into a dynamic person in any walk of life with the right effort. For the queen, what is most important is that at all times, as an individual she must be a good human being, and as queen, she must be unwavering in her commitment to serve the people and country.
''As my queen, I have found such a person and her name is Jetsun Pema. While she is young, she is warm and kind in heart and character. These qualities together with the wisdom that will come with age and experience will make her a great servant to the nation.''
Last year the king was selected to represent the prestigious college at the Model United Nations event in New York, where students are taught skills in diplomacy. A statement put out by the college said: "Jetsun is a very popular student and all of the staff and students at Regent's College would like to offer her and the King their congratulations following their engagement. "This is a happy time for the young couple and we wish them all the best in their future together."
