Queen pregnant with first child
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With spirits already at an all time high for the culmination of Bhutan's His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo's 60th birth anniversary celebrations on Wednesday, it may not have seemed conceivable for the people's happiness to be greater.
But it was to get better for the hundreds of thousands of people who were listening to King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck's royal address.
The king announced that he and his wife are expecting a son, the next King of Bhutan, in February next year.
“On this most auspicious of occasions, as we celebrate the 60th Birth Anniversary of His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo, I am deeply pleased to announce that Jetsun and I look forward to the birth of our son in the coming Losar," the king said.
“As a son, I feel fortunate to offer prayers for the wellbeing of my father. I take it as a special blessing to also have the opportunity to offer prayers as a father, for my son. Since he will carry forward our future, the prince will be a son to all Bhutanese as well,” the king said.
“I consider my son extremely fortunate, because he will be born in our blessed country. We owe our good fortune, our peace, prosperity, and security to His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo,” he added.
The people, within the country and abroad, continue to share the happy news, and well wishes have flooded the Bhutanese social media sphere.
“It is one of the proudest moments for Bhutanese when there will be three generations of the monarchy present at the same time. History awaits!” Ngawang Namgyel, a lecturer at Jigme Namgyel Engineering College said.
Bhutanese currently residing outside the country also shared their feelings.
“I felt extremely happy that I finally heard the good news that Their Majesties were expecting,” said Sonam Lhadon, 22, who is studying in Australia. “I am beyond excited to see how the prince will look like. I thank His Majesty The Fifth Druk Gyalpo for breaking the news and adding a cherry on top to celebrate such a joyous occasion,” she also said.
“I screamed with excitement when His Majesty announced that Their Majesties were soon having an heir to the throne,” said Chonying Wangmo Dorji, 22, who is studying in Thailand. “I felt like someone in my family is having a baby, a very special baby indeed. I cannot wait to see the prince. I wish all the happiness to Their Majesties.”
A student at the Pondicherry University in India ,Yogesh Dahal, said that while he was sad about missing the auspicious celebrations back home, the joyous news of the coming of the prince enriched the sense of happiness and national pride among the Bhutanese students at the university.
