Realizing the political importance of Bhutan, the British decided to acknowledge the role played by Trongsa Penlop Ugyen Wangchuck in the negotiations between the British and Tibet in 1904. The British sent its Political Officer in Sikkim, J. C. White, to Bhutan to present Ugyen Wangchuck with the insignia of The Knight Commander of the Indian Empire (KCIE).

Visit to Calcutta: A group picture taken at Hastings House, Calcutta, during the visit i 1906 of Ugyen Wangchuk, the Trongsa Penlop of Bhutan, and Thutop Namgyel, the Chogyal of Sikkim. Front row, seated from left to right: D.E.Holland, Ugyen Wangchuck, John Claude White, Thutop Namgyel and his consort Yeshe Drolma. Standing from left to right: Bhutanese guard, Capt. Henry Hyslop, Ugyen Dorje, Lobsang Choden, Jerung Dewan, Burmiak Kazi, Bhutanese guard, Sikkimese guard. (Photo by unidentified photographer, print from Fondation Alexandra David Neel, Digne)

The insignia was presented in the historic Punakha dzong in the presence of the 54th Druk Desi, Choglay Trulku Yeshey Ngedup, and several Dzongpons and Penlops. The Anglo-Bhutanese relations were established on a firmer basis as a result of the visit and British support to Bhutan was assured.

In 1906, Ugyen Wangchuck was invited by the British Government to attend the reception of the Prince of Wales in India where he was given the honours as the leader of the Bhutanese people.