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 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
.jpg) | |||||
| Queen consort of Bhutan | |||||
| Tenure | 1979 – 9 December 2006 | ||||
| Co-queens consort | Dorji Wangmo Tshering Pem Tshering Yangdon | ||||
| Born | 11 May 1963 Nobgang, Punakha, Bhutan | ||||
| Spouse | |||||
| Issue | Khamsum Singye Wangchuck Euphelma Choden Wangchuck | ||||
| |||||
| House | Wangchuck (by marriage) | ||||
| Father | Dasho Yab Ugyen Dorji | ||||
| Mother | Yum Thuiji Zam | ||||
| Religion | Buddhism | ||||
Biography
editHer 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]
- Lyonpo Sangay Ngedup (b. 1953), former Prime Minister of Bhutan.
- Dasho Ugyen Tsechup (b. 1964).
- Dasho Topgay (b. 1966).
Her five sisters are (three of them are the other Queen Mothers):[2]
- Ashi Beda (b. 1951).
- HM Ashi Dorji Wangmo (b. 1955).
- HM Ashi Tshering Pem (b. 1957).
- HM Ashi Tshering Yangdon (b. 1959), mother of King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck.
- Ashi Sonam Choden (b. 1969).
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
editShe had, with the former king, the following children:
| Name | Birth | Marriage | Issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prince Dasho Khamsum Singye Wangchuck (Photo) |
6 October 1985 | |||
| Princess Ashi Euphelma Choden Wangchuck (Photo) |
6 June 1993 | 29 October 2020 | Dasho Thinley Norbu[7] | |
Patronages
edit- Royal Patron of the Bhutan Textile Museum.[8]
- Chairman of the Royal Textile Academy of Bhutan (RTAB).[9]
- Founder and President of RENEW (Respect, Educate, Nurture and Empower Women) since 2004.[10]
- Goodwill Ambassador for UNFPA since 1999.[11]
- President of the Gyalyum (Queen Mother) Charitable Trust.[12][13]
Honours
edit
United States :
United Nations Population Award (Individual Category, 10 December 2020).[14]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Ugyen Academy
- ^ 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) - ^ "United Nations Population Fund". UNFPA.
- ^ "Textile Museum in Thimphu - Preserving and promoting a national heritage". KUENSEL News Paper, Thimpu. Retrieved March 30, 2010.
- ^ Diplomat Magazine
- ^ "Visita de la reina de Bután a la Alhambra". Diario ABC (in Spanish). 2011-07-02. Retrieved 2024-03-15.
- ^ "Surprise royal wedding revealed for Princess Euphelma of Bhutan". Hello Magazine. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Drukasia
- ^ "President of RENEW".
- ^ United Nations Population Award Ceremony
- ^ "Home | The Gyalyum Charitable Trust Fund - Bhutan". gyalyum.org. Retrieved 2024-03-15.
- ^ "About Us | The Gyalyum Charitable Trust Fund - Bhutan". gyalyum.org. Retrieved 2024-03-15.
- ^ United Nations Population Award Ceremony
Notes
edit- ^ Women in Bhutan retain their names upon marriage.