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Kesang Choden Wangchuck
Kesang Choden Wangchuck
Kesang Choden Wangchuck
Ashi Kesang Choden (born 21 May 1930) is the Queen Grandmother of Bhutan and
the widow of the late Jigme Dorji Wangchuck. She participates in royal duties of her own
accord. She is the only queen grandmother in the world. In Bhutan she is called The
Royal Grandmother.
Education
She was educated at the St Joseph's Convent, Kalimpong, India, as well as the House of
Citizenship, London.
In her reminiscence, the Queen notes:
The Irish nuns of St. Joseph’s Convent were very well educated and taught us well. The nuns
were most kind and loving to me and I in turn loved and respected them greatly.
Royal duties
In 1972, she was appointed regent when her husband was ill. She has also been a patron of
annual prayers conducted for the well-being and security of the King, country, and the people.
She provides subsistence allowance to about 200 monks and tshampas (lay monks) in various
monasteries in Bumthang, Dokar Phurdrub Gompa and Euto Gompa in Paro, Nyala Gompa
in Trongsa and Jangsa Gompa in Kalimpong, India. She also has a keen interest in preserving
the unique art, architecture and cultural heritage of Bhutan and in promoting research and
scholarship on the kingdom. She often visits religious places in Bhutan and India.
In commemoration of the Royal Grandmother's 87th birth anniversary, a book titled "The Heart
of a Sacred Kingdom, Her Majesty the Royal Grandmother Ashi Kesang Choden Wangchuck: A
Lifetime of Service to the People and Kingdom of Bhutan" was published on Sunday 21 May
2017.