King Jigme Singye Wangchuck is the fourth Druk Gyalpo (Dragon King) of Bhutan, and he reigned from 1972 until his abdication in 2006.
On 31 October 1988, he married four sisters in a public ceremony. They had married privately in 1979.
The New York Times reported the words of the Foreign Minister, who said, “Private wedding ceremonies are quite common among the Bhutanese. But a private wedding is not good enough for a King. Pressure had been building up for a proper public ceremony to be attended by all the senior members of our ecclesiastical orders.”1
By the time of the public wedding, the King already had eight children with his four brides. The official wedding was followed by a proclamation naming his eight-year-old son by Tshering Yandon as the Crown Prince.
A government official named Tsering said, “Marrying sisters is a long-standing and ‘popular’ custom among all sections of Bhutanese men. The King and his wives live in separate residences in the capital of Thimpu.”2
Dorji Wangmo
Dorji Wangmo was born on 10 June 1955 as the daughter of Yab Dasho Ugyen Dorji (1929–2016) and Yum Thuiji Zam (born 1932). She is the first wife of the now former King. She received her education at St. Helen’s School in India. She and her husband had two children together: Princess Sonam Dechen Wangchuck (born 1981) and Prince Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck (born 1984). She has two grandchildren.
Tshering Pem
Tshering Pem was born on 22 December 1957 as the daughter of Yab Dasho Ugyen Dorji (1929–2016) and Yum Thuiji Zam (born 1932). She is the second wife of the now former King. She received her education at St. Joseph’s Convent and St. Helen’s School in India. She and her husband have three children together: Princess Chimi Yangzom Wangchuck (born 1980), Princess Kesang Choden Wangchuck (born 1982) and Prince Ugyen Jigme Wangchuck (born 1994). She has five grandchildren.
Tshering Yangdon
Tshering Yangdon was born on 21 June 1959 as the daughter of Yab Dasho Ugyen Dorji (1929–2016) and Yum Thuiji Zam (born 1932). She is the third wife of the now former King. She received her education at St. Joseph’s Convent and St. Helen’s School in India. She and her husband have three children together: King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck (born 1980), Princess Dechen Yangzom Wangchuck (born 1981) and Prince Jigme Dorji Wangchuck (born 1986). She has seven grandchildren.
Sangay Choden
Sangay Choden was born on 11 May 1963 as the daughter of Yab Dasho Ugyen Dorji (1929–2016) and Yum Thuiji Zam (born 1932). She is the fourth wife of the now former King. She received her education at St. Joseph’s Convent and St. Helen’s School in India. She and her husband have two children together: Prince Khamsum Singye Wangchuck (born 1985) and Princess Euphelma Choden Wangchuck (born 1993). She does not have any grandchildren (yet?).
The four women are all entitled to be called Gyalyum Kude (Queen Mother), even though Tshering Yangdon is the mother of the current King. There is no precedence among the wives, and all children are in the line of succession according to male-preference primogeniture and their age. The monarch will step down at the age of 65 if his heir has reached the age of 21. The current King is 45 years old, and the Crown Prince is 9.
Although polygamy is, obviously, allowed in Bhutan, the current King is not likely to follow his father’s example.3 He is married to Queen Jetsun Pema.
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