Dorji Wangmo
Queen consort of Bhutan
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Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck (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 also married three of her sisters; all four sisters were entitled to be called queen.[1][2]
| Dorji Wangmo | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dorji Wangmo in 2018 | |||||
| Queen consort of Bhutan | |||||
| Tenure | 1979 – 9 December 2006 | ||||
| Co-queens consort | Tshering Pem Tshering Yangdon Sangay Choden | ||||
| Born | 10 June 1955 Nobgang, Punakha, Bhutan | ||||
| Spouse | |||||
| Issue | Sonam Dechen Wangchuck Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck | ||||
| |||||
| House | Wangchuck (by marriage) | ||||
| Father | Yab Dasho Ugyen Dorji | ||||
| Mother | Yum Thuji Zam | ||||
| Religion | Vajrayana Buddhism | ||||
Biography
Her father, Yab Dasho Ugyen Dorji (1929–2016), was the Founder and Proprietor of Ugyen Academy (UA) (03/04/2002).[3] Her mother is Yum Thuiji Zam (b. 1932). Yum Thuiji Zam Charity School in Thimphu District is named after her.[4]
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 Dechen Wangchuck and Prince Dasho Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck.
Activities
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).[5][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.[6] 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.[7]
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. [8]
Children
She had, with the former king, the following children:
| Name | Birth | Marriage | Issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Princess Ashi Sonam Dechen Wangchuck (Photo) | 5 August 1981 | 5 April 2009 | Dasho Phub W. Dorji[9] | Dasho Jigje Singye Wangchuck[10][11] (3 December 2009) Dasho Jigme Jigten Wangchuck[12] |
| Prince Dasho Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck (Photo) | 6 July 1984 | |||
Selected works
Patronages
- Chief Patron to Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock since 1999.
- Chief Patron of “Bhutan Echoes: Drukyul's Arts & Literature Festival”.
- Honorary President of Sherubtse College since 2000.
- President and Founder of the Tarayana Foundation (TF) since 2003.[16]
- Patron of the Folk Heritage Museum (FHM) [Phelchey Toenkhyim] since 2001.
Honours
United States :
Caritas in Veritate International: Pope Francis Award for Charity & Leadership (22 October 2016).[17]
