Ashi Kesang Choden (Dzongkha: སྐལ་བཟང་ཆོས་ལྡན, Wylie: skal bzang chos ldan, born 21 May 1930) is the widow of King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck. She participates in royal duties of her own accord.
She is the only living Queen Grandmother in the World. In Bhutan she is called The Royal Grandmother.
Contents
Education
She was educated at the St Joseph's Convent, Kalimpong, India, as well as the House of Citizenship, London.
In her reminiscence, the Queen notes:
The Irish nuns of St. Joseph’s Convent were very well educated and taught us well. The nuns were most kind and loving to me and I in turn loved and respected them greatly.
Marriage and family
She married Crown Prince of Bhutan (Druk Gyalsey), Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, at the Ugyen Pelri Thang Palace, Paro, on 5 October 1951.
She became Queen consort of Bhutan in 1952 when her husband, King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, ascended to the throne upon the death of his father. In 1953 she was expecting her first child, a daughter. Her first daughter arrived earlier than she expected as she was waiting for a Western doctor and her mother to travel to Thimphu to help with the delivery. The previous Queen, Ashi Phuntsho Choden, her maid, and the Bhutanese doctor Phenchun helped to deliver her daughter.