Dorji Wangmo (Dzongkha: རྡོ་རྗེ་དབང་མོ་དབང་ཕྱུག་; Wylie: Rdo-rje Dbang-mo Dbang-phyug; born 10 June 1955) is the Queen Mother (Gyalyum Kude) of Bhutan, and first wife of former king Jigme Singye Wangchuck, who is married to four sisters all of whom were entitled to be called queen.[1][2]

Dorji Wangmo
Queen consort of Bhutan
Tenure1979 – 9 December 2006
Co-queens consortTshering Pem
Tshering Yangdon
Sangay Choden
Born (1955-06-10) 10 June 1955 (age 69)
Nobgang, Punakha, Bhutan
Spouse
(m. 1979)
IssueSonam Dechen Wangchuck
Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck
Names
Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck[fn 1]
HouseWangchuck (by marriage)
FatherYab Dasho Ugyen Dorji
MotherYum Thuji Zam
ReligionVajrayana Buddhism

Biography

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Her father, Yab Dasho Ugyen Dorji (1925–2019), was the Founder and Proprietor of Ugyen Academy (03/04/2002).[3] Her mother is Yum Thuiji Zam (b. 1932).

Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck is the first wife of King Jigme Singye Wangchuck, the Fourth King of Bhutan.

She was educated at St. Helen's School, Kurseong, India.

She is the mother of Princess Ashi Sonam Dechan Wangchuck and Prince Dasho Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck.

Activities

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Queen Mother Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck of Bhutan at St Peter's College, Oxford, attending the graduation ceremony of her son, Prince Dasho Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck (left) on 29 September 2007

The Queen Mother has sponsored and edited a number of books on poetry and essays on national issues. She is the author of Of Rainbows and Clouds a story of Dasho Yab Ugyen Dorji (the Queen’s Father).[4][better source needed] Her second book, Treasures of the Thunder Dragon: A Portrait of Bhutan, is a blend of personal memoir, history, folklore and travelogue.[5] Her third book, Dochula: A Spiritual Abode in Bhutan, is a documentation of the Druk Wangyel Complex consisting of the Lungchutse Lhakhang, 108 Druk Wangyel Stupas, the Druk Wangyel Lhakhang and the Druk Wangyel Tshechu.[6]

She was honoured with the Pope Francis Charity and Leadership Award at a ceremony, in recognition of the work done by Her Majesty’s Tarayana Foundation under her leadership. [7]

Children

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She had, with the former king, the following children:

Name Birth Marriage Issue
Princess Ashi
Sonam Dechen Wangchuck (Photo)
(1981-08-05) 5 August 1981 (age 43) 5 April 2009 Dasho Phub W. Dorji[8] Dasho Jigje Singye Wangchuck[9][10]
( (2009-12-03) 3 December 2009 (age 14))

Dasho Jigme Jigten Wangchuck[11]
( (2013-08-23) 23 August 2013 (age 11))

Prince Dasho
Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck (Photo)
(1984-07-06) 6 July 1984 (age 40)

Selected works

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  • Of Rainbows and Clouds: The Life of Yab Ugyen Dorji as told to His Daughter (1998).[12]
  • Treasures of the Thunder Dragon: A Portrait of Bhutan (2006).[13]
  • Dochula: A Spiritual Abode in Bhutan (2015).[14]

Patronages

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Honours

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  •   United States :
    •   Caritas in Veritate International: Pope Francis Award for Charity & Leadership (22 October 2016).[16]

References

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  1. ^ "Monarchy and Royal family of Bhutan". Bhutan News Online. Archived from the original on 11 August 2002. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
  2. ^ "Bhutan crowns the new King". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 6 November 2008. Archived from the original on 5 October 2010. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
  3. ^ "Ugyen Academy". Archived from the original on 2019-03-28. Retrieved 2017-06-13.
  4. ^ Dorji, Yab Ugyen; Bhutan), Queen Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck (Consort of Jigme Singye Wangchuck, King of (1999). Of Rainbows and Clouds: The Life of Yab Ugyen Dorji as Told to His Daughter. Serindia Publications, Inc. ISBN 978-0-906026-49-6.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ Bhutan), Queen Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck (Consort of Jigme Singye Wangchuck, King of (2006). Treasures of the Thunder Dragon: A Portrait of Bhutan. Penguin Books India. ISBN 978-0-670-99901-9.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ Dochula: A Spiritual Abode in Bhutan
  7. ^ "Queen Mother of Bhutan receives international award for charitable accomplishments". Archived from the original on 2019-05-31. Retrieved 2017-12-10.
  8. ^ Bhutan Majestic Travel Archived 2011-08-31 at the Wayback Machine, Wedding news
  9. ^ Happy Birthday
  10. ^ "His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck - HRH Princess Kesang Choden's son SH Jamgyel Singye (left) and HRH Princess Sonam Dechan's son, SH Jigje Singye, with popular Bhutanese comedians, at Tangsibji, Trongsa. | Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2024-03-15.
  11. ^ Facebook
  12. ^ Dorji, Yab Ugyen; Bhutan), Queen Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck (Consort of Jigme Singye Wangchuck, King of (1999). Of Rainbows and Clouds: The Life of Yab Ugyen Dorji as Told to His Daughter. Serindia Publications, Inc. ISBN 978-0-906026-49-6.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  13. ^ Bhutan), Queen Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck (Consort of Jigme Singye Wangchuck, King of (2006). Treasures of the Thunder Dragon: A Portrait of Bhutan. Penguin Books India. ISBN 978-0-670-99901-9.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  14. ^ "Dochula: A Spiritual Abode in Bhutan". Archived from the original on 2017-12-01. Retrieved 2017-11-29.
  15. ^ "Tarayana Foundation". Archived from the original on 2019-02-26. Retrieved 2016-08-22.
  16. ^ "Tarayana Foundation". Archived from the original on 2018-05-05. Retrieved 2018-05-04.

Notes

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  1. ^ Women in Bhutan retain their names upon marriage.
Dorji Wangmo
Born: 29 December 1955
Bhutanese royalty
Preceded by Queen consort of Bhutan
1979–2006
with Tshering Pem
Tshering Yangdon
Sangay Choden
Succeeded by
Preceded by Queen Mother of Bhutan
2006–present
with Tshering Pem
Tshering Yangdon
Sangay Choden
Incumbent