Pema Dechen


Pema Dechen was the Queen consort of Bhutan.

Early life

Ashi Pema Dechen was born in 1918 at Wangducholing Palace to Chumed Zhalgno, Dasho Jamyang and Ashi Decho, daughter of Ashi Yeshay Choden.
She had two full-brothers and two full-sisters, and another half-siblings by the second marriages of her parents:
From an early age, Ashi Pema Dechen received a traditional education.

Marriage and Family

She married Bhutan's second king, a cross cousin, Jigme Wangchuck, in 1932 when she was 14 years old. They were second cousins. Ashi Pema Dechen was the half-sister of the maternal grandfather of the current Queen of Bhutan, Jetsun Pema, and she was the great grandmother of the Fifth Druk Gyalpo, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck.
Her elder sister, Ashi Phuntsho Choden, was the first wife of her husband since 1923 when she was 12 years old, at Thinley Rabten Palace, Phodrang.
Her children with the Second Druk Gyalpo were:
She died in 1991 at Samchoeling Palace.

Titles, styles and honours

Titles and styles