THE 40TH BIRTHDAY ANNIVERSARY of His Majesty The King of Bhutan
The Royal Bhutanese Embassy in Thailand celebrated the 40th birthday anniversary of His Majesty The King of Bhutan on the 21st February with a reception hosted by the Ambassador H.E. Mr. Tshewang Chophel Dorji and his lady wife Madam Karma Tsering at the Athenee Hotel in Bangkok.
The reception was well attended by members of the Privy Council, the diplomatic corps, Thai government officials, the Bhutanese community and friends of Bhutan. The programme began with the offering of Zhabten for the wellbeing and long life of His Majesty.
The Ambassador in his welcome remarks informed the gathering that the 40th birth anniversary is a significant and auspicious occasion for the Bhutanese community to pay tribute and celebrate the outstanding leadership of their selfless King, whose singular goal is to improve the social and economic wellbeing of the Bhutanese people while preserving, protecting and enhancing Bhutan’s status as a sovereign independent nation.
Bhutanese students studying in various universities in Thailand presented a variety of cultural performances. Bhutanese cuisine and drinks were served.
The guests also had the opportunity to view royal photographs of His Majesty, as well as photographs taken by His Majesty during various occasions which were displayed in the gallery at the reception. The reception concluded with Tashi-Lebay.
King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck was born on 21st February 1980 and is the son of King Jigme Singye Wangchuck and is the current reigning Druk Gyalpo or Dragon King, of the Kingdom of Bhutan. He became King on 9th December 2006. A public coronation ceremony was held on 1st November 2008, an auspicious year that marked 100 years of Monarchy in Bhutan.
“A King’s sacred duty is in looking after the wellbeing and Kidu of our people. Thus, I have spent these years meeting my people in their homes and villages as I fulfil this duty. I pray that my people will utilise to the fullest the Kidu I strive to bring to them, and ensure that its benefits accrue, not only them but to the future generations.”
– His Majesty the King, 26th July 2012.
“In all my work, I consider my personal interactions with the people to be of greatest importance. Wherever I travel, I make it a point to enter every household and meet every family. Besides this, I have also tried to meet every day, small groups of people from all walks of life.
In the two years since 2008, I have met about fifty thousand such people in my home. It is a source of great happiness for me that I am able to meet you, my people. With the old, I have the satisfaction of being able to express personal gratitude for their long service to the nation. With the young, I build the beginnings of a lifelong relationship through which we will serve the people and nation together.”
His Majesty’s royal address to the nation, 17th December 2010
