Tashi delek, Jig 'n' Jet

As some of you already know, I was not a fan of the great Wills 'n' Kate pageant. You might assume this is because I'm a cynic who wants to stop other people from having a little fairytale magic in their lives. Not at all. In fact, when I hear professional atheists sneering that religion is a "fairy tale," the first thing that occurs to me is that I can't trust anyone who hates fairy tales that much. It's just that when you live every day with the peccadilloes and extravagances of Britain's royal family, the viciousness and hypocrisy of its press, and the crass opportunism of its retailers, it's hard to suspend disbelief long enough to pretend that anything resembling a fairy tale is going on.

Now, however, we may have something worthy of the label. Tell me: is the quotation below from Hans Christian Andersen? Charles Perrault? Or from a parliamentary address given earlier today?

As King, it is now time for me to marry. After much thought I have decided that the wedding shall be later this year.

Now, many will have their own idea of what a queen should be like – that she should be uniquely beautiful, intelligent and graceful. I think with experience and time, one can grow into a dynamic person in any walk of life with the right effort. For the queen, what is most important is that at all times, as an individual she must be a good human being, and as queen, she must be unwavering in her commitment to serve the People and Country.

As my queen, I have found such a person and her name is Jetsun Pema. While she is young, she is warm and kind in heart and character. These qualities together with the wisdom that will come with age and experience will make her a great servant to the nation.

In fact, those are the words of Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, the 31-year-old Druk Gyalpo ("dragon king") of the tiny Himalayan country of Bhutan, announcing his engagement to a 20-year-old student.



Jigme Khesar is an interesting king. So was his father, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, who in 2008 shocked his people by declaring an end to absolute monarchy, sending out a draft constitution for citizens' approval and ordering the country's first-ever parliamentary elections. Finally he abdicated in favour of his son, who has continued leading the country down a democratic path.

That's not to say the place is now a liberal paradise. There is widespread discrimination against the ethnic Nepalese minority, and all citizens are required by law to wear traditional dress (though apparently the law is only sporadically enforced). But it's hard to imagine many other absolute rulers voluntarily ceding power in this way. By all accounts, the king is extremely popular with his subjects. And really, doesn't this put a lump in your throat?:

This union does not mean that I am starting my own family. From the very day I received the Dhar Ngay-Nga [brightly-coloured scarves representing the five elements of water, earth, fire, wind and space] from the sacred Machhen [Buddhist religious leader, I think], the people of the 20 Dzongkhags [administrative districts] became my family. Such is the duty and privilege of all Kings of Bhutan. It is through this union, that I shall have a Queen who will support, and work with me, as I serve the People and Country.

Ms Pema (who coincidentally has the same name as the Dalai Lama's sister) actually has a connection to Britain, since she received part of her education at Regent's College in London. According to the palace, she enjoys painting and basketball.

The king asked the government not to make plans for a lavish wedding, saying he wanted one "in accordance with age-old tradition, to seek the blessings of our Guardian Deities." The traditional Bhutanese marriage ceremony, Wikipedia tells us, consists of the couple exchanging white scarves and drinking from the same cup. Afterwards, wedding guests may well feast on the national dish of ema datshi, a mixture of chillies and yak's cheese, served with the local red rice (which naturally grows that colour).

And the Bhutanese need not worry too much about post-royal-wedding letdown. Both polygamy and polyandry are legal in Bhutan -- the present king's father has four wives, all of them sisters -- so there's always the prospect of another on the horizon.

The wedding is planned for October. You can follow developments on Bridge to Bhutan, Bhutan Observer, Bhutan Journals and the king's official Facebook page (of course!).