The Queen of Bhutan shows off her baby bump for the first time

King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, 35, and his 25-year-old wife Jetsun Pema have released a loving shot of themselves cradling Jetson's belly while lounging in the grounds at the Paro Ugyen Pelri Palace.

The photo, which also appears in the official calendars released by the Bhutanese government, shows Jetsun heavily pregnant, as she is due next month.

'I'm deeply pleased to announce that Jetsun and I look forward to the birth of our son,' the King said in a statement, in mid-November. 

He added:

'I consider my son extremely fortunate, because he will be born in our blessed country. We owe our good fortune, our peace, prosperity, and security to His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo.' 

The Himalayan monarch is officially referred to as the Druk Gyalpo, or Dragon King, because Bhutan translates to 'Land of the Dragons'.

The current king and soon-to-be-dad ascended the throne in 2006 at the tender age of 26, after his father, King Jigme Singye Wangchuck, abdicated so that he could take his place. 

 

The progressive former King also introduced democracy to the country. Unlike his son, who plans to have a monogamous marriage, the former King has four wives - all sisters who he married on the same day.

On October 13, 2011, the new King married the Dragon Queen, who at the time was an international relations student at Regent's College in London.