Bhutan's kings are deeply loved — and much of the country's story over the last century has been shaped by five monarchs of the Wangchuck dynasty.
The Wangchuck dynasty
- Ugyen Wangchuck, the First King, unified the country and was crowned in 1907
- Jigme Wangchuck, the Second King, consolidated the kingdom
- Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, the Third King, the father of modern Bhutan, who abolished serfdom and opened the country to the world
- Jigme Singye Wangchuck, the Fourth King, who gave the world Gross National Happiness and guided Bhutan towards democracy
- Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, the Fifth King, crowned in 2008, who reigns today
A king who gave away power
In an extraordinary step, the Fourth King led the drafting of a constitution and the transition to parliamentary democracy, with the first national elections held in 2008. He abdicated in favour of his son, who continues to champion his people's wellbeing.
The royal family today
The Fifth King and Queen Jetsun Pema have three children; their eldest son is the Crown Prince, the Gyalsey. You'll see portraits of the royal family in homes, shops and offices across the country — a sign of genuine affection.
Header photo: Gerd Eichmann, CC BY-SA 4.0
