The coronation of Oxford-educated Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, 28, as the fifth king of Bhutan marks the formal transition of power from his father who abdicated in 2006 in order to modernise his country of 635,000 people. The country’s first Parliamentary elections were held in March and the coronation on Thursday took place at an auspiciously ordained time. Simon Denyar has the story in Reuters.
With mediaeval tradition and Buddhist spirituality, a 28-year-old with an Oxford education assumed the Raven Crown of Bhutan on Thursday, to guide the world’s newest democracy as it emerges into the modern world.
As the chief abbot chanted sacred sutras to grant him wisdom, compassion and vision, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck was crowned Bhutan’s Fifth Druk Gyalpo, or Dragon King, by his own father, who imposed democracy and then abdicated two years ago.
BBC News has more pictures here.
And, previously on AW:
Finally, read John Elliott’s blog on what the king of Bhutan told him about gross national happiness here.
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