ROYAL WEDDING

Bhutan’s ‘Dragon King’ to Wed

To the daughter of an airline pilot.

Another day, another royal wedding. This time it’s Bhutan’s wildly popular “Dragon King,” 31-year-old Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, who will be marrying his longtime girlfriend, the daughter of an airline pilot. The wedding is seen as a major step forward for the tiny Himalayan nation that has been slowly making its place in the modern world. Wangchuck, who was educated at American and British universities, told the country in his engagement announcement that the most important qualities in a queen are that she be a good human being and unwavering in her commitment to the people and the country. He and his fiancée, 21-year-old Jetsun Pema, will wed in small, private ceremony filled with Buddhist traditions and will be in an ancient monastic fortress in the country’s old capital of Punakha.