Queen Jetsun Pema of Bhutan has made a rare public appearance alongside her husband, King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, and their three children to mark the New Year.
The Queen of Bhutan, 34, who has been dubbed the ‘Kate Middleton of the Himalayas’, greeted a group of schoolchildren in front of the picturesque mountains at Lingkana Palace in Thimphu, the nation’s capital, on January 2.
To mark Nyilo, the traditional new year of western Bhutan, the children recited the traditional Lolay song to wish the royals happiness and prosperity for the months ahead, according to Tatler.
The Dragon King, 44, and Queen looked delighted to be participating in the age-old custom and donned national dress, in the form of a gho and a kira respectively, for the Nyilo celebrations.
The post on the Queen’s Instagram account reads: ‘Nyilo, observed as the New Year in parts of western Bhutan, signifies the return of longer days after the Winter Solstice, according to the Bhutanese calendar.
‘Children visit homes and recite blessings for a happy and prosperous year, and are given gifts to celebrate the day.
‘It has become a cherished tradition for Their Majesties to welcome children reciting Lolay to Lingkana Palace to celebrate Nyilo each year.’
Often hailed as ‘the most attractive royal couple in the world’, Queen Jetsun Pema and King Jigme Khesar were joined by their three young children – Prince Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck, eight, Prince Jigme Ugyen Wangchuck, four, and Princess Sonam Yangden Wangchuck, one.
Queen Jetsun Pema and King Jigme Khesar are joined by their three young children – Prince Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck, eight, Prince Jigme Ugyen Wangchuck, four and Princess Sonam Yangden Wangchuck, one
Much like their father, Prince Jigme Namgyel and Prince Jigme Ugyen wore traditional ghos – a knee-length robe tied with a handwoven belt – as they listened intently to the new year blessing from the schoolchildren.
It is a requirement for men who work for the Bhutanese government and boys who attend school or college, to wear a gho.
Under the gho, men wear a white jacket with long, folded-back cuffs.
Queen Jetsun Pema looked radiant in a bright orange kira made of silk while her adorable daughter Princess Sonam Yangden wore a simple pink coat with a bow across the front.
In September, the Bhutanese Queen shared two sweet pictures of the young princess to celebrate Tshechu – a religious festival in Bhutan.
In the post, the one-year-old donned a traditional outfit in a deep red tone with colourful patterning.
The King and Queen of Bhutan greet a group of schoolchildren in front of the picturesque mountains at Lingkana Palace in Thimphu, the nation’s capital, on January 2
Queen Jetsun Pema shared two photographs of her daughter – Sonam Yangden Wangchuck (pictured) – on her first birthday
The royal shared the previously unseen images to mark Tshechu – a religious festival celebrated in Bhutan
Ever the proud mother, Queen Jetsun Pema wrote: ‘Happy Tsechu holidays to everyone in Thimphu!
‘To celebrate, we’re delighted to share these pictures of Her Royal Highness Gyalsem Sonam Yangden Wangchuck taken on her first birthday on September 9th, 2024.’
Sonam is a Bhutanese name denoting ‘merit, longevity, and good fortune’.
King Jigme Khesar, the hugely popular fifth Druk Gyalpo, studied in the UK and the US before ascending to the throne in 2006, aged just 26, after his own father abdicated.
The former King, who introduced democracy to Bhutan during his reign, has four wives, all sisters who he married on the same day.
But despite his own upbringing, the current monarch has made clear that he only plans to have one wife.
Queen Jetsun Pema and King Jigme Khesar were married on October 13, 2011 – the same year as Prince William and Princess Catherine.
At the time of her wedding, Queen Jetsun Pema was still an international relations student at Regent’s College in London making her the youngest Queen consort in the world.
Bhutan’s King and Queen arrive at Westminster Abbey ahead of the coronation ceremony of King Charles III and Queen Camilla
Queen Jetsun Pema (pictured in May 2023) attends the Coronation Reception at Buckingham Palace. She has been dubbed the ‘Kate Middleton of the Himalayas’
The match made headlines at the time because the young King was more openly affectionate with his wife than citizens were used to – leaving the couple to be called ‘the William and Kate of the Himalayas’.
However, the King’s very public displays of affection – which included kissing his wife on the cheek and holding her hand – were well-received by young people, with many even choosing to follow the royals’ example.
In 2023, the King and Queen of Bhutan joined world royalty at the wedding of Crown Prince Hussein and Princess Rajwa Al Hussein of Jordan, and attended King Charles‘ Coronation in London in early May.
The couple have an unusually close family, with the King’s sister and brother married to the Queen’s brother and sister.
The Queen’s older sister Yeatso Lhamo is married to the King’s brother Prince Jigme Dorji Wangchuck.