King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck's Historic Inaugural Visit to Australia

His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck arrived in Sydney, Australia, on the morning of October 10, aboard a special Drukair flight.

His Majesty was accompanied by Her Majesty Queen Jetsun Pema, Their Royal Highnesses Gyalsey Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck, Gyalsey Ugyen Wangchuck, and Gyalsem Sonam Yangden Wangchuck. The visit is part of His Majesty's week-long visit in Australia from 10 to 18 October 2024.

His Majesty undertook this significant visit, marking an important milestone in strengthening the ties between Bhutan and Australia. The visit was notable not only for its diplomatic implications but also for the opportunity it provided for Bhutanese expatriates in Australia to connect with His Majesty, often referred to as The People's King.

During the trip, His Majesty met with Australian government officials, business leaders and the Bhutanese community.

His Majesty and Australian Government Officials

His Majesty was welcomed to Australia by the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, Her Excellency the Honourable Sam Mostyn, AC, who received His Majesty at Admiralty House, the Governor General’s official residence in Sydney.

Engaging with the Bhutanese Community

The anticipation surrounding the King's arrival had been building for months, with many Bhutanese expressing their eagerness to connect with their beloved monarch. Preparations for the visit began well in advance, as community members organized various events and gatherings to ensure a warm welcome for His Majesty.

Many took time off work and school, prioritizing this historic occasion over their daily responsibilities. Families coordinated travel plans, decorated their homes, and practiced traditional songs and dances to showcase their heritage during the Royal Visit.

During his visit, His Majesty met with members of the Bhutanese community in Sydney on October 12, Canberra on October 13, and Perth on October 16 and 17. The Bhutanese community attending the Royal Audience also had the opportunity to receive blessings from sacred nangtens brought specially to Australia from Bhutan by the Dorji Lopon and members of the Zhung Dratshang.

His Majesty in Sydney

People from across Australia, including Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne, Tasmania, Armidale, and other cities and towns travelled to Sydney especially for the occasion.

His Majesty said that the main purpose of the Royal visit was to meet the Bhutanese in Australia, and that it was important that the diaspora be aware and included in the important developments taking place at home.

The Dorji Lopen accompanied Their Majesties for the Royal visit to Australia, bringing sacred relics for the people, who were gathering in unprecedented numbers for the Royal Audiences across cities, to view and receive blessings. Prayer ceremonies were held in the morning to receive the relics at the venue, where they were displayed for the people to view.

His Majesty in Canberra

His Majesty in Perth

Close to 16,000 Bhutanese gathered at Perth’s HBF Park Stadium for the first of two Royal Audiences. Perth is home to the largest Bhutanese community outside Bhutan, and two Royal Audiences were scheduled in the city to accommodate the large number of attendees.  

Culture Performances

The events were concluded with cultural performances put together by members of the community, who have spent days practicing for the big event.

The Canberra community held auditions to select the best performances to be presented on the day of the Royal Audience, with selected performers practicing diligently until the event.

The atmosphere was charged with joy and reverence as attendees gathered, many donning traditional Bhutanese attire to honor the occasion. The opportunity to meet the King was a dream come true for many. The heartfelt enthusiasm and preparations underscored the deep respect and love the Bhutanese community holds for their King, making the event a memorable and cherished experience for all involved.

Desuups and Volunteers for the Events

A large number of DeSuups and volunteers played a key role in organizing the events. Their efforts helped facilitate the King’s interactions with the Bhutanese community residing in Australia. The visit was significant in fostering connections between the King and Bhutanese citizens abroad.

 Sharing the Vision of Gelephu Mindfulness City

Sharing the vision and goals that has culminated in the Gelephu Mindfulness City, His Majesty invited the people to offer feedback and suggestions that would help make the initiative something they could fully participate in.

A team from the Gelephu Mindfulness City presented the latest GMC masterplan, and discussed various aspects of the City and how Bhutanese living abroad could be part of this initiative to build Bhutan’s future.

 

His Majesty spoke about the deep bond between the King and the Bhutanese people, acknowledged the sacrifices made by the diaspora, and highlighted the Gelephu Mindfulness City project, which aims to help Bhutanese reach their full potential. The project team presented ways for Bhutanese living abroad to contribute to the initiative. The Royal Visit to Australia, during which His Majesty met with approximately 27,000 people across three cities, concluded in Perth.

Importance Outcome and Significance of His Majesty's Visit to Australia
(A Report by The Royal Bhutanese Embassy, Canberra)

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1. His Majesty The King’s maiden visit to Australia is historic in many respects.
It is the first time a Head of State from Bhutan has stepped foot on Australian soil and interacted with the highest level of Australian leadership marking a new chapter in our bilateral and people-to-people relations.

It is also the first time the national flag carrier, Drukair, has flown in Australian airspace across three States.
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Finally, it marked the largest gathering of Bhutanese ever with approximately 18,000 Bhutanese attending the first Royal Audience in Perth on 16 October, showcasing the genuine reverence and connection His Majesty inspires among Bhutanese all over the world. There was much focus on the Gelephu Mindfulness City, and the visit created the perfect opportunity for Bhutanese to clarify their doubts and seek a better understanding of the Royal vision for Bhutan’s promising and prosperous future.
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Bilateral relations:
2. His Majesty’s visit to Australia has boosted Bhutan-Australia relations by generating immense interest in Bhutan in the minds of the Australian people.
The understanding of Bhutan, our values and our culture demonstrated through the King’s love for His subjects and people’s unconditional respect for their King is an immensely strong projection of Bhutan’s image and strength in Australia.
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With this very positive wave of interests in Bhutan, the Australian government and private businesses are bound to explore further avenues of cooperation with Bhutan. This will boost trade, investment and tourism.
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3. The Governor-General of Australia warmly welcomed His Majesty to Australia and the interaction with her, the Prime Minister of Australia and the Premier of Western Australia marks diplomatic interaction at the highest level. This will only herald stronger bilateral relations and enhance cooperation between the two countries.
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4. His Majesty’s interaction with the business community and friends of Bhutan in Australia has also generated a higher degree of understanding, goodwill and friendship. Greater interests and investments are foreseen from Australia after the successful Royal visit.
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Gelephu Mindfulness City:
5. Throughout the Royal Audiences in Sydney, Canberra and Perth, the resounding message was clear. His Majesty’s vision for Bhutan through the Gelephu Mindfulness City initiative is to secure a prosperous future for Bhutan and Bhutanese everywhere. It is a vision that equally involves Bhutanese abroad and they have as much stake in GMC as their fellow Bhutanese back home.
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The information shared by the GMC Team through their presentation and panel discussions provided answers to thousands of questions from Bhutanese in Australia. A rare opportunity to access first hand information and appreciate the enormity of the journey ahead, the challenges and opportunities it will create, and the resolve and solidarity required to achieve it.
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6. It created a better understanding of GMC’s potential to transform Bhutan’s economic landscape, which was clearly articulated by His Majesty’s address and the presentation and panel discussions. Bhutanese people living in Australia now clearly understand the possibilities and opportunities that the city can generate for them in the near future.
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Much interest has been generated in the bond that will be issued by GMC and we anticipate Bhutanese living in Australia will invest in great numbers when the bond is floated.
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7. Greater awareness of the GMC, its governance, strategic plan and operations resulting in greater interest and support from the Bhutanese living in Australia. Bhutanese living in Australia have the potential to be a source of investments if tapped successfully.
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Reconnection with Bhutan and a sense of purpose:
8. Close to 26,000 Bhutanese turned up for the Royal Audiences in the three cities with attendance rates sitting at an all-time high of over 80 percent for each venue. This is a massive turn out, compared to similar events in Bhutan.
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9. His Majesty’s visit was timely and provided a good perspective to thousands of Bhutanese who live in Australia and felt detached from their homeland and jaded by the prospects in Bhutan. The Royal Audiences were highly charged with emotion, and the sense of community, solidarity and belonging was palpable.
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His Majesty mentioned in all his addresses that Bhutan’s superpower is the deep trust and love that exists between the Monarch and his people. It is only because of this high degree of trust that Bhutan can embark on a bold initiative like GMC.
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Australians working at all venues were extremely surprised that a Head of State can draw such a large crowd of people as this is typically never the case in Australia.
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10. The Bhutanese were also extremely thrilled to see Her Majesty The Gyaltsuen, The Gyalseys and Gyalsem. For many, it was their first time seeing the Royal children in person.
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11. The visit in a nutshell deeply strengthened Bhutanese people’s love for their King and connection with their country and their roots, especially for younger Bhutanese who have spent a major part of their life in Australia.

Appreciation for their country, its unique culture and history was clearly enhanced through His Majesty’s connection with his people.

Find out about how to travel to Bhutan from Australia.

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