In the worst mass killing of royalty since the 1918 murder of the last Russian Tsar and his kindred, the Nepalese royal family was nearly wiped out June 1 by none other than its own heir apparent, Crown Prince Dipendra.
And in a macabre twist that well illustrates the deficiencies of monarchial rule, the prince was then crowned king just before his death from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
While he had a keen interest in guns and hunting, those that knew Dipendra described him as an amiable and gentle man -- with a tendency to drink to excess.
Eyewitness accounts indicate that the killings were the consequence of a tragic love story.
As the family, gathered for its usual Friday evening dinner party, the discussion centered around who would wed the heir to the throne. Apparently, the 29-year-old Prince Dipendra had already decided.
Dependra reportedly said he wanted to marry 22-year-old Devyani Rana, the beautiful daughter of a former minister.
His mother, Queen Aishwarya, was strongly opposed -- apparently due to an astrological prediction.
Dipendra then revealed that he had already secretly married Devyani. Sources say the king then warned Dipendra that unless he bowed to his mother's wishes, he would be passed over in the succession in favor of his younger brother Prince Nirajan. As the dinner dispute reached a crescendo, the crown prince is said to have been escorted out of the room when he began to "stammer and quarrel." The prince had been drinking heavily.
According Dr. Rajiv Shahi, son-in-law of the dead king's brother, 45 minutes later a heavily armed Dipendra returned in military fatigues and within two minutes, robotically put to death the king, queen and six other members of his family. He then turned the pistol on himself delivering a shot to the head.
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