Bhutan's King and Queen Announce Name for Their Son, the Dragon Prince, One Day After Visit from Prince William and Princess Kate

The Dragon Prince has a name!

The prince of Bhutan has been named Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck, the palace announced Saturday.

The royal newborn arrived in early February to King Jigme, 36, and Queen Jetsun Pema, 25, also known as the Dragon King and Dragon Queen. As is custom in Bhutan, his name was not revealed until after a special Buddhist naming ceremony.

His parents, sometimes referred to as the “Will and Kate of the Himalayas,” met the actual Willand Kate earlier this week, when the British prince, 33, and princess, 34, visited the mountainous nation as part of their royal tour of India and Bhutan.

As William and Kate are near the ages of the Bhutan royals – who studied in England before taking the throne – their meeting offered the chance to forge new connections between the nations.

During the elaborate ceremony, the newborn prince was cradled by his grandfather King Jigme Singye Wangchuck, who abdicated from the throne in 2006. At one moment, the former monarch was seen sweetly brushing the prince’s black hair with a white brush.

At the public ceremony, King Jigme explained the meaning behind the prince’s name in a special speech.

“Jigme means fearless,” he said in an English translation of the speech posted on his official Facebook page. “It symbolizes great courage to overcome any challenge that he may confront in future as he serves our country.

“Namgyel means victorious in all directions and victory over all obstacles. It is a name taken from the revered Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel, who enabled the Dharma to flourish in all directions as prophesied by Guru Rinpoche.

“Wangchuck is the name of the royal lineage and dynasty.”

(In Bhutan, only members of the royal family have traditional surnames.)

“When the time comes for Gyalsey Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck to serve his country, he must always place the concerns of his country above all else and serve his people justly with great love and dedication,” the king continued. “It will be his sacred responsibility to build a harmonious and just society, and thereby, fulfill all the aspirations of his people. He must live such a life as a good human being and serve his country in a manner that it will be exemplary and worthy of emulation.”