The would-be queen of the nation of 700,000 people is Jetsun Pema, a student at London's Regent College. "As king, it is now time to marry," Wangchuck said Friday at the end of an address to Bhutan's Parliament in the capital, Thimphu, that was also attended by members of the royal family and elected representatives. Wangchuck became king in June 2008 after the abdication of Jigme Singye Wangchuck, who stepped down to usher in democracy. The country is now a constitutional monarchy.
"His majesty's wedding announcement is the talk of the town. People are happy," Sangay Duba, a Bhutanese official said. "This is what the Bhutanese were waiting to hear because ours is a hereditary monarchy, and this marriage will give us our next king." According to the Kuensel, the main newspaper in Bhutan, the king told Parliament, "I cannot say how she might appear to the people, but to me, she is the one."
"While she is young, she is warm and kind in heart and character. These qualities, together with the wisdom that will come with age and experience, will make her a great servant to the nation," Kuensel quoted Wangchuck as saying. Wangchuck said the wedding would be later this year but did not give a date, the newspaper reported.
