PREDECESSORS AND SHORT HISTORY: Kingdom founded 17th December 1907, became independent of India on 8th August 1949. Rulers were...

• HH Maharaja Sri Sri Sri Sri Sri Sir UGJEN WANGCHUK 1907/1926, born 1862, son of Jigme Namgyal, he was an able administrator and a wise diplomat. He undertook several reforms and introduced the system of western education. He opened many schools. He signed a new Anglo-Bhutanese Treaty with British India Raj in 1910. Tongsa Penlop, K.C.I.E., K.C.S.I., married HM Queen Ashi Tsendue Lhamo, and had issue. He died 21st August 1926 ^(#4).

  • HH Maharaja Sri Sri Sri Sri Sri Jigme Wangchuk (qv)

• HH Maharaja Sri Sri Sri Sri Sri JIGME WANGCHUK 1926/1952, born 1906, educated in English, Hindi and Buddhist literature, he signed the Treaty of perpetual peace and friendship between the government of Independent India and Bhutan in Darjeeling, on 8th August 1949, married 1stly, HM Queen Ashi Phuntsho Chhoedon, born 1911, died 24th August 2003, married 2ndly, HM Queen Pemadecchen, and had issue. He died 30th March 1952 at Bomthang.

  • HM Druk Gyalpo Jigme Dorji Wangchuk (by Queen Choden) (qv)

  • HRH Prince Namgyal Wangchuk (by Queen Pema), born 1943.

  • HRH Princess Chokyi Wangchuk (by Queen Pema), married 1955, Ugjen Rinpoche Dorji (see below), married 2ndly, Topga Rinpoche, died 19th September 1997 in Delhi, cremated 16th October 1997 in Bhutan.

  • HRH Princess Dikki/Dekyi Wangchuk (by Queen Pema), born about 1950.

  • HRH Princess Pema Wangchuk (by Queen Pema)

• HM Druk Gyalpo JIGME DORJI WANGCHUK 1952/1972, born 1928, became HM Druk Gyalpo in 1963, a far-sighted monarch, he introduced land reforms putting a landholding ceiling of 30 acres. He distributed lands to land-less citizens. He put a ban on slavery and serfdom. He established a High court and reorganized the judicial system. In 1953, he established the Tshogdu or National assembly - Bhutan’s first unicameral Parliament. He established the Royal Advisory Council in 1963. He created Bhutan’s first Council of Ministers in 1968. During his reign, 1770 Km of roads were constructed, the number of schools rose to 102 and 6 hospitals were established, married 1951, HM Queen Ashi Kesang Chhoeden Dorji and had issue, also had issue by a Tibetan concubine named Yangki. He died 21st July 1972 in Nairobi, Kenya.^(#2)

  • HRH Princess Ashi Sonam Choden Wangchuk, born 26th July 1953 ^(#3), Minister of Finance.

  • HRH Princess Ashi Dechen Wangmo Wangchuk, born 8th September 1954.

  • HM Druk Gyalpo Jigme Singye Wangchuk (qv)

  • HRH Princess Ashi Pem Pem Wangchuk, born 12th March 1959.

  • HRH Princess Ashi Kesang Wangmo Wangchuk, born 11th May 1961.

• HM Druk Gyalpo JIGME SINGYE WANGCHUK 1972/2006, born 11th November 1955, briefly studied in India and the United Kingdom and returned to the Ugyen Wangchuck Academy in Paro, Bhutan in 1970, created Crown Prince and ponlop of Tongsa by his father in May 1972, formally enthroned on 2nd June 1974, but not before reports of a plot to assassinate the new Druk Gyalpo before his coronation could take place and to set fire to the Tashichhodzong (Fortress of the Glorious Religion, the seat of government in Thimphu) were heard, Yangki was the alleged force behind the plot, which was uncovered three months before the coronation, thirty persons were arrested, including high government and police officials; he abdicated in favour of his son on 14th December 2006; he married, 1979 (privately) and again 31st October 1988 in a public ceremony, four sisters, daughters of Yab Ugyen Dorji, and his wife, Yum Thuiji Zam, (a) HM Queen Ashi Dorji Wangmo, born 29th December 1955, (b) HM Queen Ashi Tshering Pem, born 29th December 1957, (c) HM Queen Ashi Tshering Yandon, born 21st June 1959, (d) HM Queen Ashi Sangay Choden, born 11th May 1963, and has issue, five sons and five daughters.^(#1)

  • HM Druk Gyalpo Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuk (by Ashi Tshering Yandon) (qv)

  • HRH Princess Chimi Yangzon Wangchuk (by Ashi Tshering Pem), born 10th January 1980.

  • HRH Princess Sonam Dechen Wangchuk (by Ashi Dorji Wangmo), born 5th August 1981.

  • HRH Princess Dechen Yangzon Wangchuk (by Ashi Tshering Yandon), born 2nd December 1981.

  • HRH Princess Kesang Choden Wangchuk (by Ashi Tshering Pem), born 23rd January 1982.

  • HRH Prince Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuk (by Ashi Dorji Wangmo), born 16th July 1984, educated at Choate Rosemary High School and at St Peter's College, Oxford.

  • HRH Prince Khamsum Singye Wangchuk (by Ashi Sangay Choden), born 6th October 1985.

  • HRH Prince Jigme Dorji Wangchuk (by Ashi Tshering Yandon), born 14th April 1986.

  • HRH Princess Euphelma Choden Wangchuk (by Ashi Sangay Choden), born 1993.

  • HRH Prince Ugyen Jigme Wangchuk (by Ashi Tshering Pem), born 1994.

• HM Druk Gyalpo JIGME KHESAR NAMGYAL WANGCHUK (see above)

OTHER MEMBERS:

• Raja Ugyen Dorji, Gongzim 1907/ca1913, married and had issue. He died about 1913.

  • Raja Sonam Tobgye Dorji, born 1896, Gongzim (chief chamberlain), Chief Minister of Bhutan 1917/1952, married Rani Chuni Wangmo Namgyal of Sikkim and had issue. He died September 1953.

    • Tashi Dorji

    • Jigme Palden Dorji, born 1919, lonchen, Prime Minister of Bhutan 1955/1964, married Tessla Tsarong and had issue. He died 5th April 1964 ^(#2) in Phunchholing, Bhutan.

      • Paljor J. Dorji

      • Kalden Dorji

      • Tobgye Dorji, married (div.) Hon. Manjula Sinha, born 1947, died 1996, daughter of the 3rd Baron Sinha of Raipur, and has issue.

        • Jigme Palden Dorji [born as Jigme Tobgye, later re-named after his grandfather], born 1967.

    • Ugyen Dorji [Phodang Rinpoche or Rimp], born 1930, married 1stly,1955, Choki Wangchuk, married 2ndly, Savitri. He died March 2006.

    • Ashi Kesang Choden Dorji, married 1951, HM Druk Gyalpo Jigme Dorji Wangchuk (see above).

    • Dasho Lhendup Dorji, born 6th October 1935 at Bhutan House, Kalimpong, educated at Cornell University, U.S.A., graduating in 1959; served as Postmaster General, Paro Thrimpon, Deputy and later Secretary General of the country's Development Wing;Lonchen or Acting Prime Minister of Bhutan in 1964 (July to November). He died of cancer on 15th April 2007.

• Chumed Zhalgno Dasho Jamyang of the Tamzhing Choeje family, married Ashi Decho, daughter of Ashi Yeshey Choden, (sister of Druk Gyalpo Gongsar Ugyen Wangchuck), and had issue.

  • HM Queen Ashi Phuntsho Chhoedon, born 1911 at Wangdue Choling Palace, married HH Maharaja Sri Sri Sri Sri Sri Jigme Wangchuk (see above), and had issue. She died 24th August 2003 at Dechenchholing.

• Namgyal Bahadur, uncle of the Druk Gyalpo, executed in 1964 for his part in the assassination of the Prime Minister, Jigme Palden Dorji.

1. International Who's Who 1995-96; 59th Edition, London 1995; Europa Publications Limited; Page xv

2. Heads of States and Governments; Harris M. Lentz III; McFarland & Co,Inc. 1994; Page 91

3. International Who's Who 1995-96; 59th Edition, London 1995; Europa Publications Limited, p.xv

4. "Debrett's Peerage, Baronetage, Knightage and Companionage" 1927, Dean & Son Ltd.