A CHESTER man had a once-in-a- lifetime opportunity to see the coronation of a Bhutan king.

Roger Croston, aged 52, of Bridge Drive in Christleton, travelled to the independent Himalayan kingdom for the coronation of the fifth king, 28-year-old Oxford educated Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck.

After working in Bhutan in 1981, Roger started studying the history of the tiny country and his interest grew.

Roger said: “Bhutan is the youngest democracy, it only had its first parliamentary elections this year. The people of Bhutan didn’t want it, but the monarchy thought it would be best for the nation.”

Roger travelled to Thimpu, Bhutan’s capital and was able to go to the public part of the three-day coronation.