The youngest reigning monarch, King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, 31, has married his childhood sweetheart, Jetsun Perma. Daughter of a pilot, Jetsun Perma is only 20 years old and she is a student at London’s Regent College, in Thimphu, Bhutan.
The announcement of their wedding has been made in May, when the king declared that “As a king, it is now time to get married!”
The ceremony took place in a stunning 17th century fortress in this ancient city, 71 km from capital Thimphu. Following the Bhutanese Buddhist traditions, the wedding ceremony began at 4 am with the initiation of special prayers by 100 monks led by Holiness Je Khenpo, the head monastic preceptor.
The king left his palace at around 8.20 am accompanied by Premier Jigmi Y Thinley and the chief of Bhutan Royal Police and headed straight to the large monastic fortress.
Minutes later, the Royal Bride, Pema, was brought to the palace through the wooden bridge by a procession of over 100 people beating drums and chanting.
Among the guests we could see important officials from India, Ambassador Pavan K Verma, West Bengal Governor M K Narayanan and Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, but also other ambassadors of various countries in Bhutan and personal invitees of the King.
After her arrival at the Dewa Chhen-Poi Phodrang (Palace of Great Happiness), the soon to be Queen, lit a golden lamp, offered prayers and proceeded towards Wangchuck.
Pamela will be crowned as the Queen of the Kingdom of Buthan after a few private ceremonies at the Most Holy Macchen. The crowning marks the end of the wedding ceremony.
The dancing and singing celebration will be held at the huge ground near the palace, where the royal couple will join the thousands of Bhutanese
After the wedding, the Royal Couple will set out on road from Punakha to Thimphu on Friday and are likely to be welcomed by people through the way.
Tags: buthan, king and queen, royal wedding
