Bhutan: Crown Prince Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuk to become Regent

(Kuensenonline.com 9 September 2006.)

(Courtesy Martin C: for posting it at the Asian Royals Message Board)

CJ Buyers...

Dag

Thanks for posting this.

I had thought that he was going to abdicate in favour of the Crown
Prince. Has this changed in favour of a regency only?

Christopher Buyers

Dag T. Hoelseth...

I made the headline after having read Martin C's sentence "King of
Bhutan will step aside soon...and appoint the Crown Prince as Regent"
at the ARMB and should perhaps have read the article more carefully
first. In the article we learn that

"Responsibilities of the new King
His Majesty informed the Lhengye Zhungtsho that he would be stepping
aside soon and delegating his responsibilities to His Royal Highness
the Crown Prince. His Majesty explained that it was very important for
the Crown Prince to gain experience in discharging the full
responsibilities of the King. At present, he was not gaining any real
experience as the responsibilities were being carried out by His
Majesty himself. The cabinet members should not be dismayed with the
decision as they were already aware of it and these steps were being
taken in the interest of the nation."

I think the article can be interpreted both ways - it talks about "the
new King", but also that the present King will delegate his
responsibilities to the Crown Prince.

I have like you got the impression that the king was going to abdicate
following what I read last year, but as of now I don't know what to
believe...

CJ Buyers...

I thought there may have been something else other than this article,
of which you may have had knowledge.

CJ Buyers...

is going to be any regency, just that the present king is complaining
that the CP isn't receiving enough experience. Probably this is a
gentle complaint to ministers that they are not consulting the CP
enough and going to the King about everything, so he is reminding them
of his impending abdication.

Christopher Buyers

Dag T. Hoelseth