His Majesty announced that the heir will be born around Losar in 2016
Royal Family: The past, the present and the future, converged at Changlimethang, yesterday, as the nation was celebrating His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo’s 60th birth anniversary when His Majesty The King fulfilled the wishes of the people.
His Majesty The King announced that Their Majesties The King and The Gyaltsuen are expecting a Prince, the heir to the Golden Throne, and the nation is overjoyed.
The people reacted with loud applause, some with tears streaking down their faces, as His Majesty The King, revealed that the heir, a Prince, will be born next year around losar.
“On this most auspicious of occasions, as we celebrate the 60th birth anniversary of His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo, I am deeply pleased to announce that Jetsun and I look forward to the birth of our son in the coming Losar,” His Majesty The King said.
“We are overjoyed to offer this news as a gift on His Majesty’s birth anniversary,” His Majesty The King added.
“As a son, I feel fortunate to offer prayers for the wellbeing of my father. I take it as a special blessing to also have the opportunity to offer prayers as a father, for my son. Since he will carry forward our future, the Prince will be a son to all Bhutanese as well,” His Majesty The King said.
“I consider my son extremely fortunate, because he will be born in our blessed country. We owe our good fortune, our peace, prosperity, and security to His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo,” His Majesty The King added.
Bhutanese, within the country and abroad, continue to share the happy news, and well wishes have flooded the Bhutanese social media sphere.
“The entire nation is celebrating the Royal announcement of the imminent arrival of our Prince,” Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay said. “I join the nation in offering our heartfelt thanks to Their Majesties The King and Gyaltsuen for their precious gift to the Pelden Drukpa,” Lyonchoen added.
“With the unprecedented gift of a ‘Due Sum-gi Ngadag Gyalpo’, the gods continue to shower their blessings on our beloved Drukyul,” Lyonchoen said.
“ Quite simply put, this is the best news for all Bhutanese,” Opposition Leader Pema Gyamtsho (Phd) said. “ The Royal announcement came as the most befitting tribute to His Majesty the Fourth King on His 60th birthday and the most valuable gift to the people of Bhutan,” he added.
“His revered Majesty quoted an old saying: ‘The Prince of the King/the linage of the Druk’,” Dasho Karma Ura said. “As He reminded, the Prince is the son of Bhutan, belonging to all the people hence we, the people, felt a sense of celebration with a new national dimension,” Dasho added. “With this joyous news, a new chapter opens towards a glorious future,” Dasho said.
“The news of the imminent birth of the Prince is equivalent to the proclamation of a more vital and prosperous and happy future,” Dasho also pointed out.
The former chief justice, Sonam Tobgye said it was the greatest moment in his life and the future of his posterity is secured.
“And the dynasty lives on,” Dasho Kinley Dorji said.
“It is one of the proudest moments for Bhutanese when there will be three generations of the monarchy present at the same time. History awaits!” Ngawang Namgyel, a lecturer at Jigme Namgyel Engineering College said.
Bhutanese currently residing outside the country also shared their feelings.
“I felt extremely happy that I finally heard the good news that Their Majesties were expecting,” said Son am Lhadon, 22, who is studying in Australia. “I am beyond excited to see how the Prince will look like. I thank His Majesty The Fifth Druk Gyalpo for breaking the news and adding a cherry on top to celebrate such a joyous occasion,” she also said.
“I screamed with excitement when His Majesty announced that Their Majesties were soon having an Heir to the Throne,” said Chonying Wangmo Dorji, 22, who is studying in Thailand. “I felt like someone in my family is having a baby, a very special baby indeed. I cannot wait to see the Prince. I wish all the happiness to Their Majesties.”
A student at the Pondicherry University in India, Yogesh Dahal, said that while he was sad about missing the auspicious celebrations back home, the joyous news of the coming of the Prince enriched the sense of happiness and national pride among the Bhutanese students at the university.
Like the Bhutanese students at the university, all Bhutanese, wherever they may be, share an enriched happiness and enhanced national pride today. There could have been no better ending to the celebrations than the revelation that the country’s future will continue to be secured.
Gyalsten K Dorji and Tshering Palden