Tshering Yangdon was born on 21 June 1959 as the daughter of Yab Dasho Ugyen Dorji and Yum Thuiji Zam.
Her names mean long life (Tshering) and precious jewel (Yangdon). She received her education at the St. Joseph’s Convent and St. Helen’s School.
Along with her three sisters, Dorji Wangmo, Tshering Pem Wangchuck and Sangay Choden, she married Jigme Singye Wangchuck, the King of Bhutan, on 31 October 1988. A private wedding had taken place in 1979.
In 1988, the New York Times reported the words of the Foreign Minister, who said, “Private wedding ceremonies are quite common among the Bhutanese. But a private wedding is not good enough for a King. Pressure had been building up for a proper public ceremony to be attended by all the senior members of our ecclesiastical orders.”1 By the time of the public wedding, the King already had eight children with his four brides. During the ceremony, his and Tshering Yangdon’s son was named as Crown Prince. He is the current King of Bhutan.
Together, they went on to have three children: King Druk Gyalpo (born 1980), Princess Ashi Dechen Yangzom Wangchuck (born 1981) and Prince Gyaltshab Jigme Dorji Wangchuck (born 1987). Through her three children, she had seven grandchildren.
Her husband abdicated in favour of their son in 2006, and he became known as the King Father. Tshering Yangdon and her three sisters are all known as Queen Mother.
Tshering Yangdon is the patron of The Bhutan Nuns Foundation (BNF).
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