A magical land that no one saw until 1970s
THE Kingdom of Bhutan on the eastern edge of the Himalayas has a population of 750,000 and covers just 14,812 square miles.
Its highest point, at 24,835ft above sea level, is Gangkhar Puensum, the highest unclimbed mountain in the world.
The major language is Dzongkha and the main religions are Buddhism and Hinduism.
Bhutan was cut off from the rest of the world for many years. Tourists weren’t allowed to visit until the 1970s and television was banned in the country until 1999.
In 1910, King Ugyen and the British Government signed the Treaty of Punakha which stated that British India would not interfere in the internal affairs of Bhutan if the country accepted external advice in its foreign relations.
Bhutan is one of only a few countries which have been independent throughout their history – never conquered, occupied, or governed by an outside power.
The capital, Thimpu, was the location yesterday for the meeting of the country’s rulers, King Jigme and Queen Jetsun, and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
Kate and the queen, with their long dark hair, elegant figures and pronounced love of fashion, could have been taken for sisters as they stood next to each other.
Indeed, the similarities go so far that the queen has been nicknamed the Kate of the Himalayas. Not that the likenesses are merely confined to their appearances, however. Here, we reveal how these two royal ladies have more in common than you’d think...
COME FLY WITH ME
In a bizarre coincidence, both women’s parents are connected to the aviation industry. Jetsun Pema’s father is a commercial airline pilot, currently working for Bahrain Airlines, while both Middleton parents worked for airlines.
Michael Middleton, 66, himself the son of pilot captain Peter Middleton, was with British Airways as a flight dispatcher. The supremely elegant Carole Middleton, 61, famously worked as a flight attendant.
SPORTY SCHOOLGIRLS
Both girls were privately educated. Jetsun Pema, 25, went to a private boarding school in India where she was the captain of the basketball team and, according to her house mistress, always did her house proud. She apparently still plays in local tournaments.
Kate, 34, who boarded at £30,000-a-year Marlborough, excelled at hockey and was captain of the team. She is also good at tennis and netball and is still a keen sportswoman.
NOT JUST A PRETTY FACE
Kate Middleton was an able student and has a 2:1 degree in history of art from the University of St Andrews.
Queen Jetsun also studied art history in addition to international relations and psychology at Regent’s University in London. She is fluent in Dzongkha, the official language of Bhutan, Hindi and English.
...OR A SHRINKING VIOLET
While Kate is said to have stunned William when she took part in a fashion show at St Andrews University, strutting down the catwalk in a transparent dress, Jetsun was no bluestocking either.
A member of the girls’ band of her school, she also took part in western dances.
FAIRYTALE ROYAL WEDDINGS
The two couples married in the same year and both women married into royal houses beginning with W: Kate to the House of Windsor and Jetsun Pema into the House of Wangchuck.
On April 29, 2011, Kate Middleton walked down the aisle of Westminster Abbey in a stunning Alexander McQueen dress to become the wife of the future King of the United Kingdom. A few months later, on October 13, 2011, Jetsun Pema married Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck in a traditional Buddhist ceremony wearing a traditional skirt and gold jacket with wide red cuffs and embroidered details. The country celebrated with three days of festivals.
FIRST BORN BOYS
On February 5 this year Bhutan’s Dragon King and his stunning Queen had their first child. Their son, whose name will be announced tomorrow, is known as the gyalsey, which means prince.
Kate also gave the UK opportunity to rejoice back on July 22, 2013, when Prince George of Cambridge was born.