Sangay Choden (born 11 May 1963) is one of the four wives and queens of Bhutanese king Jigme Singye Wangchuck, who ruled in Bhutan from 1972 until his abdication in 2006. She is the Queen Mother (Gyalyum Kude) of Bhutan.

Sangay Choden
Queen consort of Bhutan
Tenure1979 – 9 December 2006
Co-queens consortDorji Wangmo
Tshering Pem
Tshering Yangdon
Born (1963-05-11) 11 May 1963 (age 61)
Nobgang, Punakha, Bhutan
Spouse
(m. 1979)
IssueKhamsum Singye Wangchuck
Euphelma Choden Wangchuck
Names
Sangay Choden Wangchuck[fn 1]
HouseWangchuck (by marriage)
FatherDasho Yab Ugyen Dorji
MotherYum Thuiji Zam
ReligionBuddhism

Biography

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Her father, Yab Dasho Ugyen Dorji (1925–2019), was the Founder and Proprietor of Ugyen Academy (03/04/2002).[1] Her mother is Yum Thuiji Zam (b. 1932).

She was educated at St. Joseph's Convent, Kalimpong, and St. Helen's School, Kurseong, India.

Her three brothers are:[2]

Her five sisters are (three of them are the other Queen Mothers):[2]

Sangay Choden was appointed the United Nations Population Fund’s (UNFPA) Goodwill Ambassador in Bhutan in 1999.[3]

I support the all around development of our younger generations, in whose hands lie the future of our country.

Sangay Choden is particularly interested in promoting the arts in Bhutan and advocating the country's rich cultural heritage. She is the patron of the Bhutan Textile Museum in Thimphu which she helped establish in 2001.[4]

Her Majesty also established the Tara Lhadron Zhingkham Lhakhang, a temple dedicated to the 21 Taras located in the historically and spiritually significant temple grounds of Parigzampa Astrology School in Dechencholing, Thimphu.[5]

On 1 July 2011 she visited the Alhambra with her daughter, Princess Ashi Euphelma Choden Wangchuck.[6]

Children

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

Name Birth Marriage Issue
Prince Dasho
Khamsum Singye Wangchuck (Photo)
(1985-10-06) 6 October 1985 (age 39)
Princess Ashi
Euphelma Choden Wangchuck (Photo)
(1993-06-06) 6 June 1993 (age 31) 29 October 2020 Dasho Thinley Norbu[7]

Patronages

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Honours

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Ugyen Academy
  2. ^ a b 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)
  3. ^ "United Nations Population Fund". UNFPA.
  4. ^ "Textile Museum in Thimphu - Preserving and promoting a national heritage". KUENSEL News Paper, Thimpu. Retrieved March 30, 2010.
  5. ^ Diplomat Magazine
  6. ^ "Visita de la reina de Bután a la Alhambra". Diario ABC (in Spanish). 2011-07-02. Retrieved 2024-03-15.
  7. ^ "Surprise royal wedding revealed for Princess Euphelma of Bhutan". Hello Magazine. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  8. ^ Altmann, Karin (2015-11-27). Fabric of Life - Textile Arts in Bhutan: Culture, Tradition and Transformation. Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG. ISBN 978-3-11-042861-2.
  9. ^ Drukasia
  10. ^ "President of RENEW".
  11. ^ United Nations Population Award Ceremony
  12. ^ "Home | The Gyalyum Charitable Trust Fund - Bhutan". gyalyum.org. Retrieved 2024-03-15.
  13. ^ "About Us | The Gyalyum Charitable Trust Fund - Bhutan". gyalyum.org. Retrieved 2024-03-15.
  14. ^ United Nations Population Award Ceremony

Notes

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  1. ^ Women in Bhutan retain their names upon marriage.
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Sangay Choden
Born: 11 May 1963
Bhutanese royalty
Preceded by Queen consort of Bhutan
1979–2006
with Dorji Wangmo
Tshering Pem
Tshering Yangdon
Succeeded by
Preceded by Queen Mother of Bhutan
2006–present
with Dorji Wangmo
Tshering Pem
Tshering Yangdon
Incumbent