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Queen Mother Sangay Choden (born May 11, 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, literally meaning "Queen Mother") of Bhutan.

Biography[edit]

Her 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):[3]

  • 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).

She was appointed the United Nations Population Fund’s (UNFPA) Goodwill Ambassador in Bhutan in 1999.[4]

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.[5]

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.[6]

On 1 July 2011 she visited the Alhambra with her daughter, Princess Ashi Euphelma Choden Wangchuck.[7]

Children[edit]

She had, with the former king, the following children:

Patronages[edit]

  • Royal Patron of the Bhutan Textile Museum.[9]
  • Chairman of the Royal Textile Academy of Bhutan (RTAB).[10]
  • Founder and President of RENEW (Respect, Educate, Nurture and Empower Women) since 2004.[11]
  • Goodwill Ambassador for UNFPA since 1999.[12]

Honours[edit]

  •  United States :
    • United Nations Population Award (Individual Category, 10 December 2020).[13]

Ancestry[edit]

See also[edit]

  • House of Wangchuck
  • Line of succession to the Bhutanese throne

References[edit]

  1. ^ Ugyen Academy
  2. ^ Of Rainbows and Clouds: The Life of Yab Ugyen Dorji As Told to His Daughter
  3. ^ Of Rainbows and Clouds: The Life of Yab Ugyen Dorji As Told to His Daughter
  4. ^ "United Nations Population Fund". UNFPA.
  5. ^ "Textile Museum in Thimphu - Preserving and promoting a national heritage". KUENSEL News Paper, Thimpu. Retrieved March 30, 2010. CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  6. ^ Diplomat Magazine
  7. ^ La Reina Madre de Bután en España
  8. ^ "Surprise royal wedding revealed for Princess Euphelma of Bhutan". Hello Magazine. Retrieved 30 October 2020. CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  9. ^ Fabric of Life - Textile Arts in Bhutan: Culture, Tradition and Transformation. Written by Karin Altmann
  10. ^ Drukasia
  11. ^ "President of RENEW".
  12. ^ United Nations Population Award Ceremony
  13. ^ United Nations Population Award Ceremony
  14. ^ Literally Copper Gilt Lama

External links[edit]

  • Bhutan News Online
  • World Who's Who