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. 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).

Biography

Her father, Yab Dasho Ugyen Dorji (1925–2019), was the founder and proprietor of Ugyen Academy (UA) (03/04/2002). Her mother is Yum Thuiji Zam (b. 1932). Yum Thuiji Zam Charity School in Thimphu District is named after her.

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

Yangdon is a gardener and artist, doing things such as painting and sketching.

Humanitarian causes

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

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:

NameBirthMarriageIssue
King Druk Gyalpo Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck(1980-02-21)21 February 1980(age 46)13 October 2011Ashi Jetsun PemaCrown Prince Druk Gyalsey Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck ((2016-02-05)5 February 2016(age 10)) Prince Dasho Jigme Ugyen Wangchuck ((2020-03-19)19 March 2020(age 6))Princess Ashi Sonam Yangden Wangchuck ((2023-09-09)9 September 2023) (age 2 years 7 months)
Princess Ashi Dechen Yangzom Wangchuck ()(1981-12-02)2 December 1981(age 44)29 October 2009Dasho Tandin NamgyelAshi Dechen Yuidem Yangzom Wangchuck Dasho Ugyen Dorji WangchuckDasho Jigme Singye Wangchuck
Prince Gyaltshab Jigme Dorji Wangchuck ()(1986-04-14)14 April 1986(age 40)17 October 2013Ashi Yeatso LhamoAshi Decho Pema Wangchuck (2014 (age 11–12))

Patronages

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

Honours

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

Notes

Bhutanese royalty
Tshering YangdonHouse of WangchuckBorn: 21 June 1959
Preceded byKesang ChodenQueen consort of Bhutan 1979–2006 with Dorji Wangmo Tshering Pem Sangay ChodenSucceeded byJetsun Pema
Preceded byKesang ChodenQueen Mother of Bhutan 2006–present with Dorji Wangmo Tshering Pem Sangay ChodenIncumbent