Crown Prince Jigme Namgyel Wangchuk of Bhutan performed his very first official public duty on February 10, 2024, in Bhutan's capital of Thimphu.Â
The Crown Prince is the world's youngest heir apparent. He was born on February 5, 2016, as the eldest child of King Jigme Khesar of Wangchuk and Queen Jetsun Pema.Â
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| Photo credit: Queen Jetsun Pema IG |
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| Photo credit: Queen Jetsun Pema IG |
He was born when his father was already Bhutan's monarch so at birth he was already the country's Crown Prince.
For his first public duty, Crown Prince Jigme Namgyel, 8, attended a special public ceremony as he received the Royal Charter for the Establishment of Gelephu Mindfulness City Special Administrative Region from the sacred Machen Lhakhang in Punakha Dzong.
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Photo credit: Queen Jetsun Pema IG
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The Royal Charter was granted on the first month of the Year of the Dragon (February 10 marked the Chinese Lunar New Year and the first day of the Year of the Wood Dragon).
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Crown Prince Jigme Namgyel of Bhutan performs his first public duty. Photo credit: Queen Jetsun Pema IG
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During the ceremony, the Crown Prince also performed the traditional special offerings to the deities and dharma protectors of the land and invoked their blessings and protection for the successful launch and realization of the King's vision for the future of Bhutan.Â
About 400 children from the region were invited to participate in the special ceremony. The King did not attend but Queen Jetsun Pema was there together with other government officials.Â
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| The Bhutanese royal family on January 1, 2024. From left: Crown Prince Jigme Namgyel, the King, the Queen holding the little princess, and Prince Jigme Ugyen, Photo credit: Queen Jetsun Pema IG |
The eight-year-old Crown Prince has two younger siblings, Prince Dasho Jigme Ugyen Wangchuck (born on March 19, 2020), and a younger sister, Princess Ashi Sonam Yangden Wangchuck who was born on September 9, 2023.
Bhutan follows the male-preference primogeniture succession, making Bhutan the only monarchy in Asia that allows females to succeed. Â
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