Related Articles
Queen Jetsun Pema of Bhutan has shared two new photographs of her daughter on her first birthday to mark a national holiday.
The Queen of Bhutan, who has been dubbed the Kate Middleton of the Himalayas, took to Instagram to share the sweet images of Sonam Yangden Wangchuck.
The 34-year-old royal shared the previously unseen images to mark 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 young royal looked equally as adorable in the second picture, where she sweetly glanced to her side.
Queen Jetsun Pema of Bhutan has shared two new photographs of her daughter – Sonam Yangden Wangchuck (pictured) – on her first birthday
Jestun 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.’
The royal, who is married to King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck of Bhutan, 44, added: ‘May your celebrations be filled with joy and togetherness!’
Sonam, who was born last year, is a Bhutanese name denoting ‘merit, longevity, and good fortune’.
It comes after Queen Jetsun Pema of Bhutan released two photographs to mark her son Jigme Ugyen Wangchuck’s fourth birthday in March.
The second child of King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck of Bhutan sported a beaming smile while playing outside in the first image.
Jigme Ugyen Wangchuck, who is second in the line of succession after his older brother, Gyalsey Jigme Namgyel, looked smart in traditional attire.
The second image offered a close-up shot of the four-year-old as he held up flags with a dragon design, presumably taken at Lunar New Year, which ushered in the year of the dragon.
In the snap, he gazed towards the camera with a calm expression while donning traditional Bhutanese attire.
The royal shared the previously unseen images to mark Tshechu – a religious festival celebrated in Bhutan
The Queen shared the photographs with the caption: ‘Happy Birthday to His Royal Highness Gyalsey Ugyen Wangchuck who turns 4 today.’
Jigme Ugyen Wangchuck was born on 19 March 2020 at the Lingkana Palace in Thimphu.
It comes after the royal family of Bhutan held a lavish naming ceremony in December to announce the name of their third child.
Three months after giving birth to a daughter, Queen Jetsun Pema and King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck introduced Her Royal Highness the Gyalsem, named Sonam Yangden Wangchuck.
The royal household shared the happy news and photographs of the glamorous celebrations on the Queen’s official Instagram account.
The Queen, who already has two sons, Prince Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck and Jigme Ugyen Wangchuck stunned in a traditional purple dress with gold patterning.
Meanwhile, Sonam was wrapped in a silk blush pink blanket and matching hat, which featured pink embellishments to echo the blanket.
Sonam’s older brothers, Prince Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck and Jigme Ugyen Wangchuck looked equally adorable as they celebrated their sister and posed for photographs.
The post explained: ‘Her Royal Highness the Gyalsem has been named Sonam Yangden Wangchuck.
‘Sonam is a Bhutanese name denoting merit, longevity and good fortune. The name Yangden, meaning precious jewel, signifies prosperity and wellbeing.
‘The naming ceremony was held at Tashichhodzong on the anniversary of His Majesty’s accession to the Golden Throne in 2006.
‘The ceremony was presided over by His Holiness the Je Khenpo. His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo, Their Majesties the Queen Mothers and Members of the Royal Family were present for the ceremony.
‘Representatives of the Dratshang offered Ku Sung Thugten Mendrel. The Dzongdas, Thrizins, and Lam Netens of twenty dzongkhags, representing the people of Bhutan, made buelwa offerings.
‘Her Royal Highness, the third child of Their Majesties The King and Gyaltsuen, was born on September 9 this year.’
Queen Jetsun Pema (pictured in May 2023), who has been dubbed the Kate Middleton of the Himalayas, shared the snaps on Instagram
Last year, the Queen joined world royalty at the wedding of Crown Prince Hussein and Princess Rajwa Al Hussein of Jordan, and attended King Charles’ Coronation with her husband in London in early May.
King Jigme, the hugely popular fifth Druk Gyalpo, studied in the UK and the US and ascended the throne in 2006, aged just 26 after his own father abdicated.
Unlike his son, who plans to have a monogamous marriage, 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, whom he married on October 13, 2011, when she was still an international relations student at Regent’s College in London.
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’.
The Bhutanese King and Queen married in 2011 – the same year that Prince William and Kate were wed – and have since welcomed thee children.
However, the King’s very public displays of affection – which included kissing his wife on the cheek and holding her hand – was well-received by young people, with many even choosing to follow the royals’ example.
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.
