On the 12th anniversary of the coronation of His Majesty Druk Gyalpo Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, the people of Bhutan are celebrating and looking back on the start of his “golden reign”.
The King’s coronation had three distinct stages. The first saw His Majesty The Druk Gyalpo receive the same Dar Na-Nga that has been presented to all monarchs of the Wangchuck dynasty from the sacred Machen of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel in Punakha Dzong. The second was the official crowning with the “Raven Crown”, and the third was a celebration which lasted three days at Changlingmithang where the people of Bhutan paid homage to their new monarch.
On 7 November 2006, His Majesty made a coronation speech which outlined the plans and foundations on which his reign would grow. He said:
“Throughout my reign I will never rule you as a King. I will protect you as a parent, care for you as a brother and serve you as a son. I shall give you everything and keep nothing; I shall live such a life as a good human being that you may find it worthy to serve as an example for your children; I have no personal goals other than to fulfil your hopes and aspirations. I shall always serve you, day and night, in the spirit of kindness, justice and equality.”
Known as ‘The People’s King’, His Majesty The Druk Gyalpo is known for the special bond he shares with his people and is seen as an inspiration, a leader and a man of selfless service.
In an article in Kuensel – Bhutan’s daily newspaper – reporting on the Coronation Day celebrations made clear the admiration the people of Bhutan have for their king, saying: “During the past decade, His Majesty steered the nation with steadfast attention and brilliance as the democratisation process began to unfold unprecedented experiences in the country with changes in the polity, economy and Bhutanese behaviour. With a smooth transition to democratic constitutional monarchy form of government and the three successful general elections, democracy is deepening and the future looks more promising.”
