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| Lavish coronation for Bhutan king | Lavish coronation for Bhutan king |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The new king of Bhutan has been crowned in a lavish coronation ceremony in the isolated Himalayan kingdom. | The new king of Bhutan has been crowned in a lavish coronation ceremony in the isolated Himalayan kingdom. |
| King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, 28, an Oxford-educated bachelor, becomes the world's youngest monarch. | King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, 28, an Oxford-educated bachelor, becomes the world's youngest monarch. |
| He has become head of state of the world's newest democracy after his father abdicated in 2006 as Bhutan changed to a constitutional monarchy. | He has become head of state of the world's newest democracy after his father abdicated in 2006 as Bhutan changed to a constitutional monarchy. |
| Bhutan held its first democratic elections for a new parliament and prime minister in March. | Bhutan held its first democratic elections for a new parliament and prime minister in March. |
| The coronation of the Buddhist nation's fifth hereditary king fell in what is known in Bhutan as the month of the earth male rat. | The coronation of the Buddhist nation's fifth hereditary king fell in what is known in Bhutan as the month of the earth male rat. |
| Prime Minister Lyonchhen Jigmi Y Thinley said three enlightened astrologers had jointly proposed 6 November as the most auspicious date for the "historic occasion". | Prime Minister Lyonchhen Jigmi Y Thinley said three enlightened astrologers had jointly proposed 6 November as the most auspicious date for the "historic occasion". |
| Gross National Happiness | Gross National Happiness |
| The ceremony comprised an ancient and colourful ritual in a white-walled royal palace in the capital, Thimphu. | The ceremony comprised an ancient and colourful ritual in a white-walled royal palace in the capital, Thimphu. |
| Bhutan's citizens are gradually being introduced to the idea of democracy | Bhutan's citizens are gradually being introduced to the idea of democracy |
| The crown was bestowed on the new king by his father, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, 52, who stepped down in 2006 as part of his five-year plan to gradually introduce democracy to Bhutan's 600,000 citizens. | The crown was bestowed on the new king by his father, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, 52, who stepped down in 2006 as part of his five-year plan to gradually introduce democracy to Bhutan's 600,000 citizens. |
| Mr Lyonchhen said earlier the coronation would further consolidate the country's "sovereign independence and security and promote further unity, harmony, and peace in the kingdom". | Mr Lyonchhen said earlier the coronation would further consolidate the country's "sovereign independence and security and promote further unity, harmony, and peace in the kingdom". |
| But correspondents say that while 2008 will be remembered as the year democracy was introduced to Bhutan, revolutionary change is not on the agenda. THE KING'S ANCIENT TITLES Supreme Protector Of The PeopleThe Great Elected OneThe Upholder Of The Law | But correspondents say that while 2008 will be remembered as the year democracy was introduced to Bhutan, revolutionary change is not on the agenda. THE KING'S ANCIENT TITLES Supreme Protector Of The PeopleThe Great Elected OneThe Upholder Of The Law |
| The transition to democracy has been deliberately designed to be slow and steady and the monarchy will continue to play a central role in Bhutanese life. | The transition to democracy has been deliberately designed to be slow and steady and the monarchy will continue to play a central role in Bhutanese life. |
| Both the new government and the opposition say they are committed to the royal philosophy of Gross National Happiness - or GNH - which aims to strike a better balance between the spiritual and the material. | Both the new government and the opposition say they are committed to the royal philosophy of Gross National Happiness - or GNH - which aims to strike a better balance between the spiritual and the material. |