Amazing King Of Bhutan - 5 Surprising Things You Never Thought A King Would Do

Find out why the King of Bhutan is also known as the ‘People’s King’.

By Zann Huizhen Huang 

Mention the word ‘King’ and one would not fail to conjure up images of a monarch sitting on a pedestal, with a crown on his head. More often than not, a ‘King’ is surrounded by bodyguards, and normally keeps a distance from the commoners.

However, one particular king stood out and broke all the stereotypes of a monarch. He is none other than His Majesty the King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck of Bhutan.

An Oxford graduate and a basketball fan, the fifth King of Bhutan has won the hearts of his people as well as many around the world through his benevolent thoughts and actions.

Here are five touching things he did that has earned him great respect and title of the ‘People’s King’.

1. His Majesty The King and some officials joined farmers as they work in their paddy fields

While on a tour of Wangdue Phodrang dzongkhag (district) on 11 June 2018, His Majesty The King and some officials joined farmers who were working in their paddy fields in the villages of Changkha, Gasetsho Gom and Wangdue.

 

Photo: Facebook/His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck 

At the onset of the monsoon season, which is a very important time of the year for farmers in Bhutan, paddy seedlings must be transplanted.

The work is known to be back-breaking, especially in the mountainous terrains of Wangdue Phodrang. Thus, every helping hand is welcome and villagers would pool their efforts together to help accomplish the tasks.

To see His Majesty the King of Bhutan holding his son, the Gyalsey (Prince) as he got his feet wet while working in the muddy paddy fields certainly left an indelible impression in the minds of many.

2. Peeling onions and chopping chillies to cook for a community school

A ‘feat’ which no one can believe that a King would do, the beloved Monarch peeled onions and chopped chillies to cook for kids in a community school in the district of Mongar.

 Photo: Facebook/His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck

His humble act melted the hearts of many and the image was widely shared on social media, and he certainly lived up to his name as the ‘People’s King’.

3. Celebrating his birthday with sick children in a hospital

Instead of celebrating his 33^rd birthday with pomp and ceremony as one would expect any royals to do, His Majesty the King of Bhutan chose to share his joy with the sick children in the pediatric ward of the Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital in Thimphu.

His Majesty the King, accompanied by Her Majesty the Gyaltsuen shared cakes and presented toys and gifts to the children there on 21 February 2013.

Photo: Facebook/His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck

Following that, Their Majesties also visited the Patient’s Guest House and met with the patients and their relatives staying there.

The Patient’s Guest House accommodates long-term patients who do not have a place to stay in Thimphu, as well as patients who have no one to take care of them.

4. Planting 108,000 trees in Bhutan to celebrate the birth of his son

Upon the birth of his first child on 5 February 2016, a joyous occasion for His Majesty, he decided to make it an even more memorable event by planting trees.

Photo: Facebook/His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck

Therefore, to celebrate the arrival of his son, the Gyalsey, the King joined the people of Bhutan and planted 108,000 trees all across the nation.

5. Walking in the rain to inspect flooded areas of Gelephu

It is hard to imagine that a King would wade in flood waters and walk in the rain. In fact, His Majesty really did so in July 2016 to inspect the flooded areas of Gelephu, the southern part of Bhutan.

Photo: Facebook/His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck 

Accompanied by the Minister of Agriculture and Forests as well as the Chief Operating Officer of the Army, His Majesty also inspected the areas along the riverside near the Sarpang Market, which was washed away by flood waters.

The shopkeepers and their families were evacuated while those who required assistance were provided with food and shelter.