Tshering Yangdon

This name uses Bhutanese naming customs. Bhutanese people have two given names, neither of which is a surname or family name unless they are descended from royal or noble lineages.

Tshering Yangdon (Dzongkha: ཚེ་རིང་དབྱང་སྒྲོན, born 21 June 1959) is the third wife of the former Bhutanese king, Jigme Singye Wangchuck. She is the Queen Mother (Gyalyum Kude) of Bhutan, as the mother of the current Bhutanese king Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck.^[1] She is also the mother of King Jigme Khesar's two younger full siblings, Princess Ashi Dechen Yangzom (b. 1981) and Prince Gyaltshab Jigme Dorji (b. 1986).

Tshering Yangdon
Tshering Yangdon in 2005
Queen consort of Bhutan
Tenure	1979 – 9 December 2006
Co-queens consort	Dorji Wangmo Tshering Pem Sangay Choden
Born	(1959-06-21) 21 June 1959 (age 65) Nobgang, Punakha, Bhutan
Spouse	Jigme Singye Wangchuck ​ ​ (m. 1979)​
Issue	Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck Dechen Yangzom Wangchuck Jigme Dorji Wangchuck
Names Tshering Yangdon Wangchuck[fn 1]
House	Wangchuck (by marriage)
Father	Yab Dasho Ugyen Dorji
Mother	Yum Thuiji Zam
Religion	Buddhism

Biography

Her father, Yab Dasho Ugyen Dorji (1925–2019), was the founder and proprietor of Ugyen Academy (03/04/2002).^[2] Her mother is Yum Thuiji Zam (b. 1932).

She was educated at St. Joseph's Convent, Kalimpong, and St. Helen's School, Kurseong, India.

The name Tshering means "long life".

The name Yangdon (or Yangden) means "precious jewel", denotes prosperity and well-being.

Having a deep fondness for nature and the environment, Yangdon is an avid gardener. She is also very good in art and enjoys painting and sketching.^[3]

Humanitarian causes

The Queen founded Bhutan Nun's Foundation (BNF) in March 2009.^[4] The foundation's focus is to make nunneries a way to help and empower girls and women through education and economic self-sufficiency.^[5]

She was responsible for the building of the Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chörten in Punakha Valley in 2004.

Children

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

Name	Birth	Marriage		Issue
King Druk Gyalpo Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck	(1980-02-21) 21 February 1980 (age 45)	13 October 2011	Ashi Jetsun Pema[6]	Crown Prince Druk Gyalsey Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck[7] ( (2016-02-05) 5 February 2016 (age 9)) Prince Dasho Jigme Ugyen Wangchuck ( (2020-03-19) 19 March 2020 (age 5)) Princess Ashi Sonam Yangden Wangchuck ((2023-09-09)9 September 2023) (age 1 year 9 months)
Princess Ashi Dechen Yangzom Wangchuck (Photo)	(1981-12-02) 2 December 1981 (age 43)	29 October 2009	Dasho Tandin Namgyel[8]	Ashi Dechen Yuidem Yangzom Wangchuck[9] Dasho Ugyen Dorji Wangchuck Dasho Jigme Singye Wangchuck
Prince Gyaltshab Jigme Dorji Wangchuck (Photo)	(1986-04-14) 14 April 1986 (age 39)	17 October 2013	Ashi Yeatso Lhamo[10]	Ashi Decho Pema Wangchuck (2014 (age 10–11))[11]

Patronages

• Royal Patron of the Royal Society for the Protection and Care of Animals.^{[citation needed]}
• Royal Patron of the Royal Bhutan Flower Exhibition.^[12]

Honours

• Outstanding Women in Buddhism Award [The International Women's Meditation Center Foundation] (2007).^[13]