Kuensel editorial from the 19 December issue titled “From vision to reality” sums up what all of us felt about the 2007 National Day:

It was a moment that carried the weight of Bhutanese history. On the morning of December 17, 2007, exactly 100 years after Gongsar Ugyen Wangchuck began the reign of the Wangchuck dynasty, the fourth Druk Gyalpo, His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck, and His Majesty the King, Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck, bowed to each other, their Royal Scarves lowered in the traditional gesture of respect.

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On this historic day, when the nation is gathered as one, I offer, on behalf of the People and King, our love and gratitude to His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, whose 34 years of service have brought about a strong, prosperous nation on the cusp of an even brighter future as a democracy.

With our heartfelt gratitude, I also offer our pledge to fulfill His Majesty’s vision for a nation founded on the philosophy of Gross National Happiness and the principles and ideals of Democracy.

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Gongsar Ugyen Wangchuck’s (1862-1926) reputation as statesman swelled amongst the people of Bhutan when he took over the helm of affairs of eastern Bhutan as Trongsa Penlop in 1882. This, however, injected fear into his adopted brothers Thimphu Dzongpon Alo Dorji and Punakha Dzongpon Phuntsho Dorji. The assassination plan that they conspired led to the Battle of Changlimithang of 1885. This event, often described as Bhutan’s “last civil war”, consolidated Gongsar Ugyen Wangchuck’s authority as the undisputed leader of Bhutan. A man of vision and a seasoned diplomat, he successfully restored the prolonged strained relations between British-India and Bhutan by accompanying Younghusband to Tibet in 1904 as a mediator. As a mark of appreciation for successful mediation in 1904 between Tibet and the British he was accorded with the insignia of the Knight Commander of the Indian Empire in Punakha Dzong in 1905.

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This years National Day was a very special day. How many times in the history of the mankind can you see 2 kings at the same time? I am posting some pictures to remind ourselves how fortunate we are to be able to witness such an occasion.

17th December, 2007 - a glorious day for a great occasion. The soldiers entering the celebration ground to offer the Guard of Honour.

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Tomorrow is a very special day for the Bhutanese. Tomorrow, the 17th of December, 2007 we celebrate 100 years of Monarchy in Bhutan. It was on the 17th of December in 1907 that Gongsar Ugyen Wangchuck was crowned as the first king of Bhutan.

In celebration of this important occasion my art club (VAST Bhutan) is organizing an exhibition titled “Bhutan through 100 years”. The following pictures are my contribution to the exhibition - digital mosaics of the 5th and the 4th Druk Gyalpos.

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His Majesty celebrated the National Day (17 Dec) of 2005 in Trashiyangtse. Translated from Dzongkha.

” As we celebrate our National Day today, we have only one and a half years left before completing the Ninth Five Year Plan which was started in 2002. During this Plan period we faced serious security challenges but successfully strengthened the security of our nation.

The process of bringing about political changes has been progressing well and the development plans and programmes of the Ninth Plan are being implemented successfully for the well being of our people. Next year, the Tala Hydro-electric Project will be completed and it will bring an annual revenue of more than Nu. 4,000 million. The revenue from this one project alone will greatly benefit the government and people of Bhutan.

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