World

Bhutan crowns new king

by Sanjay Jha | November 5, 2008 at 11:03 pm

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Unlike the violent path full of blood bath their neighbour took to democracy in Nepal, The royals in Bhutan took steps to democracy and former king began the democratic reform process in 2005. The small Buddhist country nestled between India and China is the only independent left after two other Buddhist countries Tibet and Sikkim have been merged in those wo countries.

The fifth king of Bhutan, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck was crowned Thursday at a coronation ceremony, the ceremony comprised an ancient and colourful ritual in a white-walled royal palace in the capital, Thimphu.

The isolated Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan crowned a new king on Thursday, placing a charismatic Oxford-educated bachelor as head of state of the world's newest democracy.

With the rest of the world gripped by the historic US election win for Barack Obama, all eyes in Bhutan were on 28-year-old Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, who also becomes the world's youngest reigning monarch.

The new King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck is a handsome bachelor with an Elvis Presley-like hairstyle and sideburns.

Before his crowning, he has been effectively acting as king since December 2006.

King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, 28, an Oxford-educated bachelor, becomes the world's youngest monarch.

He has become head of state of the world's newest democracy after his father abdicated in 2006 as Bhutan changed to a constitutional monarchy.

Bhutan held its first democratic elections for a new parliament and prime minister in March.

The coronation of the Buddhist nation's fifth hereditary king fell in what is known in Bhutan as the month of the male earth rat.