Bhutan's new ruler addresses public on National Day
Thimphu, December 17: In his first public address as Bhutan's new ruler, King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck Sunday sought the support of his people to build a strong nation and help the country shift from monarchy to parliamentary democracy.
'It is now our responsibility to take the country forward by following the legacy and the good work done over the years for the welfare of the nation by my father,' the king told a large crowd of people at capital Thimphu on the occasion of Bhutan's National Day celebrations.
This was the king's his first public appearance after his father Jigme Singye Wangchuck abdicated the throne and handed over reins to him by a royal edict Thursday.
At least 35,000 people thronged the Changlimithang stadium in Thimphu to have a glimpse of the king. The Wangchuck dynasty was established in 1907 on this day.
The king's nearly 20-minute speech was uninterrupted with the crowd listening with rapt attention. The king also appealed to locals in all the 20 districts in the country of about 700,000 people to 'follow the footsteps of his father' and realize his 'dream' of building a stable nation. Bhutan News Service