King and Queen of Bhutan proudly release sweet new images of their two-week-old son - including the first close-up picture of the Dragon Prince
- King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and his wife, Queen Jetsun Pema, 25, welcomed their first child earlier this month
- The couple shared the new images of the young tot on Facebook, weeks after publishing the first ever picture of their little boy
- In the first image released, King Jigme's father joined couple, and was pictured holding his grandson, whose name has not yet been made public
- However in the latest images, the couple are seen cradling their newborn, who is swaddled in a luxurious gold cloth
- The latest images were released in celebration of the King's 36th birthday on February 21
The King and Queen of Bhutan have shared new images of their two-week-old son, releasing the first close-up snap of the Dragon Prince since his birth earlier this month.
In a set of pictures posted to King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck's official Facebook page in honor of his 36th birthday on February 21, he and his wife, Queen Jetsun Pena, can be seen cradling their newborn, whose name has not yet officially been released.
Another image shows a close-up shot of the sleeping prince's face while he rests peacefully, all wrapped up in a beautiful gold swaddling cloth.
Precious prince: King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and his wife, Queen Jetsun Pema, released the first close-up image of their son on Sunday, in honor of the King's 36th birthday
First-time parents: The King and his wife, 25, also shared some pictures of themselves cradling their beloved newborn baby while in the grounds of the family's palace in the Bhutanese capital of Thimphu
Bonding time: King Jigme (left) and Queen Jetsun (right) also shared individual pictures with their baby boy
A spokesperson for King Jigme, who is known as the Dragon King, wrote alongside the images: 'To Commemorate His Majesty's 36th Birth Anniversary on 21st, we are delighted to share a collection of wonderful photographs of His Royal Highness The Gyalsey, with His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Gyaltsuen.
'In these Kupars, taken on Friday, 19th February, His Royal Highness is two-weeks old!
'As we offer our humble love and wishes, we also rejoice, knowing that on this special year, His Majesty has the exceptional, personal happiness of being a Parent. [sic]'
The images come just over a week after the couple released the first official picture of their son when he was just five-days-old.
In the snap, the King and Queen can be seen posing in the grounds of the family's lavish Lingkana Palace in the Bhutanese capital Thimphu, sitting alongside the King's father, who is cradling their child.
Both the King and Queen can be seen gazing adoringly at the new arrival who was swaddled in a vibrant yellow blanket.
The former King, who is known as His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo, was given the honor of holding the new baby as he was officially introduced to the world, and the proud grandfather can be seen with a wide smile on his face as he looks down at the next generation of his family.
Doting father: The King can be seen gazing down adoringly at his son, while the infant rests peacefully in his mother's arms
Scenic: This particular image not only captured the new family-of-three, but also the beautiful scenery of the Bhutanese capital
Happy family: In the first image released of the child, the couple can be seen gazing adoringly at their newborn, while the baby's grandfather, the former King of Bhutan (center) was given the honour of holding the baby
The photo came with a statement from the royal media office, which read: 'Bhutanese families spent a wonderful Losar today, celebrating the day with family and loved ones.
'To make the day even more special, we have the honour of bringing to you the very first official photograph of His Royal Highness The Gyalsey.'
The Gyalsey is a Buddhist word for Prince, meaning 'son of the victorious ones'; at the time Bhutan was celebrating the 15-day festival of Losar or Tibetan New Year.
'In this delightful Losar Kupar from Lingkana Palace, His Royal Highness The Gyalsey is surrounded by His Majesty The King, His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo, and Her Majesty The Gyaltsuen,' the statement continued.
'His Royal Highness The Gyalsey was born on the 5th of February 2016, and is the first Royal Child of His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Gyaltsuen.'
The new arrival marks the beginning of an exciting year for the Bhutan Royals, who have been dubbed the ‘William and Kate of the Orient’.
They are set to host the real Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on an official visit on behalf of the British Government.
Happy news: King Jigme and the then-pregnant Queen Jetsun released this image, which was taken at Paro Ugyen Pelri Palace in Bhutan, when they announced that they were expecting their first child
So happy: While dating, their relationship made headlines when the King was openly affectionate with Jetsun - something that was unusual in the country
Their hugely-anticipated visit will coincide with the couple’s previously announced tour of India and is likely to take place in April.
It's not yet known whether William and Kate will meet the newest member of the family, who was safely delivered at Lingkana Palace on February 5, according to the royal media office.
'Their majesties and members of the royal family are filled with profound joy on the birth of His Royal Highness,' they said in a statement.
'With the blessings of the guardian deities of Bhutan and protectors of the dharma (divine truth), and the prayers of the Bhutanese people, Her Majesty and His Royal Highness The Gyalsey (prince) are both in perfect health.'
The prince's birth was marked by sacred Bhutanese traditions with the Je Khenpo, the chief abbot and spiritual leader of the majority Buddhist nation, presiding over religious ceremonies, the office said.
Known as the 'last Shangri-La', the South Asian kingdom, home to just 750,000 people, famously shuns conventional measures of economic wellbeing, instead compiling a Gross National Happiness index.
King Jigme, the hugely popular fifth Druk Gyalpo - Dragon King - studied in Britain and the United States, and was officially crowned king in 2008.
Proud moment: The couple announced they were expecting in November, four years after they tied the knot, in October 2011 (pictured)
The current king actually ascended the throne in 2006, however, at the tender age of 26, after his father abdicated so that he could take his place.
The progressive former King also introduced democracy to the country. Unlike his son, who plans to have a monogamous marriage, the former King has four wives - all sisters who he married on the same day.
On October 13, 2011, the new King married the Dragon Queen, who at the time was an international relations student at Regent's College in London.
The match made headlines at the time because the young King was more openly affectionate with his wife than citizens, who had no legal access to television until 1999, were used to.
However, his very public displays of affection - which included kissing his wife on the cheek and holding her hand - was well-received by young people, who News.com.au reports started following suit.
That is, perhaps, because the King has had his eye on the queen for so long.
According to some reports, the couple first met when the Queen was just seven and the King was 17, at a family picnic in Bhutan's capital of Thimphu.
The couple's elaborate fairytale wedding ceremony was labeled as the biggest media event in Bhutanese history.
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