Crown Prince undertakes his first public engagement

The six-year-old Crown Prince Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck, the youngest crown prince in the world, is already taking on public duties as a royal. On June 6, the prince stepped out by himself to inaugurate Super FabLab.

He has accompanied his parents, King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Queen Jetsun Pema, on a multitude of royal engagements in the past, including the recent 400th anniversary of the founding of the Central Monk Body of Bhutan.

The FabLab, or fabrication laboratory, is named after him—the Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck Super FabLab— and located at the TechPark in Thimphu.

This is an initiative by the palace ‘established as part of a series of initiatives in line with the Royal Vision to build platforms that will foster a culture of innovation and creativity’.

At the inauguration ceremony, the prince was received in a Chipdrel Ceremony—a ceremonial procession—and offered prayers during a traditional Marchang ceremony. After that, the six-year-old toured the Super FabLab, the second ever in the world outside the U.S., and learned about the fabrication technology they have. Later on, he posed for a portrait and thanked guests. 

The Bhutan royal family described the visit, which coincided with his mother Queen Jetsun’s 32nd birthday, as ‘His Royal Highness The Gyalsey’s first Royal Duty as Chief Guest.” Both King Jigme Khesar and Queen Jetsun Pema shared a video and photos of the visit on their Instagram’