PROFILES

Nepal's Last King and Queen

By The Ambassadors Research Foundation

In an armoured black Mercedes, Nepal's deposed King Gyanendra and Queen Komal, finally pulled out of their palace gate. Three women cried, "King go back, don't leave the palace," while hundreds chanted, "Thief, leave the country!".

He is moving with his wife, to one of this former summer palaces on a forested hill on the outskirts Kathmandu. He will be protected by police, but will otherwise live as an other Nepali - albeit an incredibly wealthy one.

Nepal's diposed King, left his palace for good on June 11, making an end to the world's last Hindu monarchy, a reign that had stretched more than 239 years. While his throne was formally abolished last month, the former king did not surrender his crown of peacock feathers, yak hair and jewels until his last day.

Nepal was declared a Republic after elections last May.

Deposed King Gyanendra's former mistress, Sarala Gorkheli and his 80-year-old step mother will be allowed to stay on at the main palace, because they own no property and have no where else to go. Also the 94-year-old mistress of his grandfather, King Tribbuwan, will stay at the palace. His grandfather ruled the Himalayan Kingdom from 1911 until his death in 1955.

The palace, a pink concrete monstrosity, will be turned into a museum. In this palace, there will be the history of King Mahendra's autocratic moves in the 1960s, King Rirendra's restoration of democracy in 1990, the royal slaughter in 2001, Gyanendra's royal coup in 2005, the ensuing democratic protests, most recently the abolition of the throne itself, with Gyanendra's departure from the palace and public life.