Bhutan is a small Asian country in the Himalayas led by a constitutional monarch, King Jigme Khesar. We look at who is in the line of succession to the Bhutanese throne.
The Constitution of Bhutan sets out the laws of succession, which are governed by male-preference cognatic primogeniture, meaning younger brothers can jump older sisters in the line of succession.
The Constitution also sets out the plans for the abdication of the monarch. If an heir reaches the age of 21, the monarch must then abdicate by the age of 65. Additionally, any violation of the Constitution dictates that the monarch must relinquish the throne.
Heirs must be legitimate descendants of King Ugyen Wangchuck – the founder and first King of Bhutan.
If the heir and those in the close line of succession are determined to be unsuitable to reign, the monarch has the ability to choose their heir.
The current King is Jigme Khesar, and his three children hold the first three places in the line of succession. Below is a list of people eligible to succeed him.
- Crown Prince Jigme Namgyel
- Prince Ugyen Wangchuck
- Princess Sonam Yangden
- Prince Jigyel Ugyen
- Prince Khamsum Singye
- Prince Jigme Dorji
- Decho Pema
- Prince Ugyen Jigme
- Princess Chimi Yangzom
- Jigme Ugyen
- Jamyang Singye
- Princess Sonam Dechen
- Jigje Singye
- Jigme Jigten
- Princess Dechen Yangzom
- Dechen Yuidem
- Ugyen Dorji
- Jigme Singye
- Princess Kesang Choden
- Jamgyel Singye
- Ugyen Junay
- Tshering Tshoyang
- Princess Euphelma Choden
Anyone in the line of succession who does not marry a natural-born Bhutanese citizen will lose their succession rights.
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