The Druk Gyalpo is the head of state

Head of State

A head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...

 of Bhutan

Bhutan

Bhutan , officially the Kingdom of Bhutan, is a landlocked state in South Asia, located at the eastern end of the Himalayas and bordered to the south, east and west by the Republic of India and to the north by the People's Republic of China...

. He is also known in English as the King of Bhutan. Bhutan, in the local Dzongkha language

Dzongkha language

Dzongkha , occasionally Ngalopkha, is the national language of Bhutan. The word "dzongkha" means the language spoken in the dzong, – dzong being the fortress-like monasteries established throughout Bhutan by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in the 17th century."Bhutani" is not another name for...

, is known as Dryukyul which translates as "The Land of Dragons." Thus, while Kings of Bhutan

Bhutan

Bhutan , officially the Kingdom of Bhutan, is a landlocked state in South Asia, located at the eastern end of the Himalayas and bordered to the south, east and west by the Republic of India and to the north by the People's Republic of China...

 are known as Druk Gyalpo ("Dragon King"), the Bhutanese people call themselves the Drukpa, meaning "Dragon people."

The current ruler of Bhutan is the 5th Hereditary King His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, who is the 5th Druk Gyalpo. He wears the Raven Crown

Raven Crown

The Raven Crown is worn by the Kings of Bhutan. It is a hat surmounted by the head of a raven.-History:...

 which is the official Crown worn by the Monarchs of Bhutan. He is correctly styled "Mi'wang 'Ngada Rimboche" ("His Majesty") and addressed "Ngada Rimboche" ("Your Majesty").

The current Druk Gyalpo Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck is the youngest reigning monarch in the world. He ascended to the throne in November 2008 after his father, Jigme Singye Wangchuk, abdicated the throne in his favor. The 5th Dragon King of Bhutan was known as Prince Charming

Prince Charming

Prince Charming is a stock character who appears in a number of fairy tales. He is the prince who comes to rescue of the damsel in distress, and stereotypically, must engage in a quest to liberate her from an evil spell...

 when he visited Thailand as a Crown Prince to attend the 60th Anniversary Year of His Majesty the King Bhumibol Adulyadej

Bhumibol Adulyadej

Bhumibol Adulyadej is the current King of Thailand. He is known as Rama IX...

 of Thailand.

List of Druk Gyalpos

The Hereditary Dragon Kings of Bhutan:

• His Majesty Ugyen Wangchuck
  Ugyen Wangchuck
  Gongsa Ugyen Wangchuck was the first King of Bhutan from 1907 to 1926.He was born in 1862 to Jigme Namgyal, penlop of Trongsa and Ashi Pema Choki. He succeeded his father as Penlop of Trongsa...
  
   (1st Druk Gyalpo)
• His Majesty Jigme Wangchuck (2nd Druk Gyalpo)
• His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuck
  Jigme Dorji Wangchuck
  Jigme Dorji Wangchuck was the Third Druk Gyalpo of Bhutan.He began to open Bhutan to the outside world, began modernization, and took the first steps toward democratization...
  
   (3rd Druk Gyalpo)
• His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck
  Jigme Singye Wangchuck
  Jigme Singye Wangchuck is the former King of Bhutan. He was the fourth Dragon King of Bhutan from 1972 until his abdication in favour of his eldest son, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, in 2006...
  
   (4th Druk Gyalpo)
• His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck (5th Druk Gyalpo)

See also

• House of Wangchuck
  House of Wangchuck
  The House of Wangchuck has ruled Bhutan since it was reunified in 1907. Prior to reunification, the Wangchuck family had governed the district of Trongsa as descendants of Dungkar Choji. They eventually overpowered other regional lords and earned the favour of the British Empire...
  
  
• History of Bhutan
  History of Bhutan
  Bhutan's early history is steeped in mythology and remains obscure. It may have been inhabited as early as 2000 BC, but not much was known until the introduction of Tibetan Buddhism in the 9th century, when turmoil in Tibet forced many monks to flee to Bhutan. In the 12th century, the Drukpa...
  
  
• Politics of Bhutan
  Politics of Bhutan
  The Government of Bhutan is a constitutional monarchy; between 1907 and the 1950s however, Bhutan was an absolute monarchy. The peaceful march to democracy has been a steady one. The King of Bhutan is head of state. Executive power is exercised by the Lhengye Zhungtshog, or council of ministers,...
  
  
• Dual system of government
  Dual system of government
  The Dual System of Government or Cho-sid-nyi is the traditional diarchal political system of Tibetan peoples whereby the Desi coexists with the spiritual authority of the realm, usually unified under a third single ruler. The actual distribution of power between institutions varied over time and...
  
  
• Constitution of Bhutan
  Constitution of Bhutan
  The Constitution of Bhutan was enacted July 18, 2008 by the Royal Government. The Constitution was thoroughly planned by several government officers and agencies over a period of almost seven years amid increasing democratic reforms in Bhutan...