King and Queen of Bhutan welcome a baby boy: Couple announce happy news as they urge the public to be ‘mindful and supportive’ amid the coronavirus crisis
- Bhutan’s King announced arrival of a new son in a sweet Instagram post today
- It’s the second child of King Jigme , 40, and his wife, Queen Jetsun Pema, 29,
- Couple have not released the name or images of the baby, born on March 19
- Coronavirus symptoms: what are they and should you see a doctor?
The King and Queen of Bhutan welcomed a baby boy today.
King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, 40, and his wife Queen Jetsun Pema, 29, made the announcement on Instagram this morning alongside a message urging the public to be ‘mindful and supportive’ amid the coronavirus crisis.
Bhutan has so far only had one confirmed case of COVID-19 but the royal couple called for their people to remain ‘responsible’ in the wake of the global spread.
The King, known as the Dragon King, and his wife already have one son, three-year-old Prince Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck, known as the Dragon Prince, who is said to have been ‘delighted’ to meet his younger brother.
King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, 40, and his wife, Queen Jetsun Pema, 29, announced the birth of a new son in a sweet Instagram post this morning, but is yet to reveal any imagery of the baby or his name
The couple did not share a photo of their new arrival or announce his name.
Alongside a family photo, the couple wrote: ‘We are honoured to announce the birth of the second Royal Child of Their Majesties The King and Queen, a Prince, on the 19 of March 2020, corresponding with the 25th day of the 1st month of the Male Iron Rat year, in Lingkana Palace, Thimphu.
‘Her Majesty and the royal baby are in good health, and His Royal Highness The Gyalsey was delighted to meet his younger brother.
‘Their Majesties express their gratitude to the medical team, the Zhung Dratshang and to everyone for their well-wishes and prayers.
‘While this remains a very happy occasion for the Royal family and the nation and people of Bhutan, Their Majesties wish to remind all Bhutanese to be mindful, responsible and supportive to each other in the wake of the COVID-19 virus.
The post read: ‘Her Majesty and the royal baby are in good health, and His Royal Highness The Gyalsey was delighted to meet his younger brother.’ Queen Jetsun Pema and Prince Jigme are pictured in December at Bhutan’s national day – where they announced the pregnancy
‘Their Majesties have everyone whose lives have been affected by this global pandemic in their thoughts and prayers.’
Their oldest son, Prince Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck, is the heir to the Bhutanese throne. 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.
So happy: While dating, their relationship made headlines when the King was openly affectionate with Jetsun – something that was unusual in the country
The prince, pictured in a traditional outfit at the pregnancy announcement last year, is said to be ‘very excited’ to be a big brother
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’.
However, his 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.