In sharp contrast to the nuptials of Britain's Prince William and Kate Middleton, there were no star-studded celebrities, self-important film stars, fidgeting foreign royals or long wedding trains to trip over.
Jetsun Pema became a Queen in spite of her common heritage, joining many other commoners-turned-queens, post her royal wedding to the Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck. Pema lived her Cinderella moment while giving many other 'ordinary' girls a reason to believe in theirs too.
The theme here was "of the people," which is a lot easier when your country has a population of 700,000, almost all of whom were in overdrive as the popular fifth Dragon King married a 21-year-old student, the daughter of an airline pilot.
Thousands of Bhutanese from the surrounding villages joined the king and queen at their wedding reception at a fairground outside the country's most sacred monastery fortress, where a slate of dancers performed traditional routines for the new couple.
"I have longed for this celebration, and here it is," said Pema Gyeltshen, a nearby villager, as he watched the dancing.
When the king, who has a reputation as a down-to-earth and accessible leader, was asked how it felt to be married, he asked his questioner if she was married. When she said no, he responded: "It's great; you should try it yourself."
The celebrations began at 8:20 a.m. - a time set by royal astrologers - when the king, wearing the royal yellow sash over a golden robe with red flowers and multicolored boots, walked into the courtyard of the 17th century monastery in the old capital of Punakha and proceeded up the high staircase inside.
Jetsun Pema became a Queen in spite of her common heritage, joining many other commoners-turned-queens, post her royal wedding to the Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck. Pema lived her Cinderella moment while giving many other 'ordinary' girls a reason to believe in theirs too.
The theme here was "of the people," which is a lot easier when your country has a population of 700,000, almost all of whom were in overdrive as the popular fifth Dragon King married a 21-year-old student, the daughter of an airline pilot.
"I have longed for this celebration, and here it is," said Pema Gyeltshen, a nearby villager, as he watched the dancing.
When the king, who has a reputation as a down-to-earth and accessible leader, was asked how it felt to be married, he asked his questioner if she was married. When she said no, he responded: "It's great; you should try it yourself."
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