THE ISOLATED Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan yesterday crowned its new king at a lavish ceremony in its capital, Thimphu, as head of state of the world's newest democracy.
King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck (28), an Oxford-educated bachelor and the world's youngest monarch, was crowned by his father, who abdicated two years ago to help usher in a constitutional monarchy in the Buddhist Land of the Dragon. In the vast, ancient white-walled palace overlooking the picturesque Thimphu valley, the king accepted Bhutan's Raven Crown in a Buddhist ceremony in which monks in scarlet robes clanged cymbals and blew horns.
After his enthronement, he pledged to maintain his father's unique philosophy of enhancing his country's "Gross National Happiness", the singular barometer of the country's wellbeing that balances spiritual with material values.
"It's a wonderful day, there is no cloud in the sky. The gods are here. It will be remembered as an event which unifies the Bhutanese people," prime minister Jigmi Y Thinley said of the ceremony, whose date and exact time were decreed by three royal astrologers.
Sandwiched between India and China and never colonised, Bhutan has undergone sweeping changes this year after it conducted its first democratic elections for a new parliament and elected a prime minister in March.
But the majority of the country's 600,000 residents were opposed to the polls, claiming they were content to live under the absolute monarchy of the Wangchuk dynasty put in place in 1907 by the British, who then ruled neighbouring India.
Even after the elections the majority of Bhutanese continue to look upon the newly crowned king for reassurance. Jigme Khesar retains much influence, even though parliament has the power to impeach him.
For decades Bhutan has remained quaintly resistant to change and the outside world, rarely letting in foreigners until recent years, fearing that they would "pollute" its ancient culture and pristine environment.
The king's father directed his poor but beautiful country gradually toward change. Four years ago Bhutan became the world's only country to ban smoking anywhere in public and a charming dress code was mandated for its citizens: a colourfully striped knee-length robe for men and an embroidered silk jacket with a wraparound skirt for women.