Life After the Throne

Former Nepalese King Gyanendra, the world's last Hindu monarch, was forced from the throne on May 28th after Nepal's newly-elected Constituent Assembly voted to abolish the country's 239-year-old royal dynasty. The assembly was the culmination of a peace process that ended Nepal's decade-long Maoist insurgency, during which Gyanendra alienated both sides by abruptly claiming power for himself and dissolving the government in 2005. After the vote, Nepalese officials presented Gyanendra with an eviction notice of sorts, giving him 15 days to vacate the palace.

Royal Factoid: Gyanendra came to power in 2001 after his brother, King Birendra, was murdered during a palace dinner party along with several other members of the royal family. Crown Prince Dipendra, who died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, is blamed for the massacre, although some still believe that Gyanendra had a role in the assassinations.

"He told us not to believe the rumors and that he had not moved the royal assets out of the palace and destroyed any documents."
—Nepal's Home Minister Krishna Sitaula, announcing that Gyanendra had agreed to leave the royal palace in Katmandu and live as a common citizen

— M.J. Stephey