Dorji Wangmo

Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck (, ; born 10 June 1955) is the Queen Mother (Gyalyum Kude) of Bhutan, and first wife of former king Jigme Singye Wangchuck, who also married three of her sisters; all four sisters were entitled to be called queen.

Biography

Her father, Yab Dasho Ugyen Dorji (1929–2016), was the Founder and Proprietor of Ugyen Academy (UA) (03/04/2002). Her mother is Yum Thuiji Zam (b. 1932). Yum Thuiji Zam Charity School in Thimphu District is named after her.

Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck is the first wife of King Jigme Singye Wangchuck, the Fourth King of Bhutan.

She was educated at St. Helen's School, Kurseong, India.

She is the mother of Princess Ashi Sonam Dechen Wangchuck and Prince Dasho Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck.

Activities

The Queen Mother has sponsored and edited a number of books on poetry and essays on national issues. She is the author of Of Rainbows and Clouds a story of Dasho Yab Ugyen Dorji (the Queen’s Father). Her second book, Treasures of the Thunder Dragon: A Portrait of Bhutan, is a blend of personal memoir, history, folklore and travelogue. Her third book, Dochula: A Spiritual Abode in Bhutan, is a documentation of the Druk Wangyel Complex consisting of the Lungchutse Lhakhang, 108 Druk Wangyel Stupas, the Druk Wangyel Lhakhang and the Druk Wangyel Tshechu.

She was honoured with the Pope Francis Charity and Leadership Award at a ceremony, in recognition of the work done by Her Majesty’s Tarayana Foundation under her leadership.

Children She had, with the former king, the following children: Name BirthMarriage IssuePrincess AshiSonam Dechen Wangchuck (Photo) 5 April 2009 Dasho Phub W. Dorji Dasho Jigje Singye Wangchuck Dasho Jigme Jigten Wangchuck Prince DashoJigyel Ugyen Wangchuck (Photo)

Selected works Of Rainbows and Clouds: The Life of Yab Ugyen Dorji as told to His Daughter (1998). Treasures of the Thunder Dragon: A Portrait of Bhutan (2006). Dochula: A Spiritual Abode in Bhutan (2015).

Patronages Chief Patron to Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock since 1999. Chief Patron of “Bhutan Echoes: Drukyul's Arts & Literature Festival”. Honorary President of Sherubtse College since 2000. President and Founder of the Tarayana Foundation (TF) since 2003. Patron of the Folk Heritage Museum (FHM) [Phelchey Toenkhyim] since 2001.

Honours Caritas in Veritate International: Pope Francis Award for Charity & Leadership (22 October 2016).