The Bhutanese royal family arrived in India on Tuesday on a four-day goodwill visit to the country. The visit assumes significance in the wake of an over two-month standoff between Indian and Chinese troops in the Doklam region of Bhutan.
Even as his parents, King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Queen Jetsun Pema Wangchuk, engage in high-profile diplomatic meetings, it is the one-and-a-half-year-old Bhutan Prince Jigme Namgyal Wangchuk who is stealing the show with his adorable looks.
Here's him with his parents and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.
Special gesture for a valued friend. EAM @SushmaSwaraj receives Their Majesties, The King, The Queen and The Gyalsey (Prince) of Bhutan pic.twitter.com/D9rrB2ClFH
— Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) October 31, 2017
He was also gifted an official football from the FIFA U-17 World Cup and a chess set by PM Narendra Modi.
Presented the Prince of Bhutan an official football from the FIFA U-17 World Cup and a chess set. pic.twitter.com/91xLRURPnJ
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 1, 2017
He seems to have also taken a liking to Karnataka's famed Channapatna toys.
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who met the royal family on Thursday, tweeted, "With His Majesty the King, the Queen & the adorable young Prince of Bhutan. Happy to see HM the Prince like the Chennapatna (Karnataka) toys".
With His Majesty the King, the Queen & the adorable young Prince of Bhutan. Happy to see HM the Prince like the Chennapatna (Karnataka)toys. pic.twitter.com/VXba9s9LM4
— Nirmala Sitharaman (@nsitharaman) November 2, 2017
The toys get their name from Channapatna town in Ramanagara district which is known for its lacquerware art, especially wooden toys, bangles, rocking horses and dolls.
Made from soft ivory wood or hale mara, the products are coated with lacquer which is prepared from vegetable dyes. This is also the products' USP since they use organic colours as opposed to those containing lead.
Home to over 5,000 artisans, Channapatna's journey to becoming the "toy town of Karnataka" is believed to have begun nearly 200 years ago under the reign of Tipu Sultan. The then ruler of Mysuru is said to have been gifted a lacquered-wood toy from Persia in the 18th century. Impressed by the craft, he brought artisans from Persia to train local artists in the craft.