Queen Komal of Nepal

Birthday February 18, 1951

Birth Sign Aquarius

Birthplace Bagmati, Kathmandu, Nepal

Age 73 years old

Nationality Nepal

#57421 Most Popular

1927

Komal was born in Bagmati, Kathmandu into the Rana family, the daughter of Kendra Shumsher Jang Bahadur Rana (1927–1982) and his wife Shree Rajya Lakshmi Devi Shah (1928–2005).

Komal's older sister Aishwarya was married to King Birendra of Nepal, the brother of Gyanendra.

1951

Komal (कोमल राज्य लक्ष्मी देवी शाह) (born 18 February 1951) is a member of the Nepalese royal family who was Queen of Nepal as the wife of King Gyanendra of Nepal until the monarchy was abolished on 28 May 2008.

She is also known by the name Komal Shah.

1970

Queen Komal married her second cousin Prince Gyanendra of Nepal on 1 May 1970 in Kathmandu.

They have two children:

1991

They divorced in 1991.

2001

Aishwarya was killed in the palace massacre on 1 June 2001.

Komal sustained bullet injuries as a result of the palace shooting and spent four weeks recovering in hospital.

She was educated at St Mary's School, Jawalakhel, St Helen's Convent, Kurseong, India and Kalanidhi Sangeet Mahavidhyalaya, Kathmandu.

As a result of the massacre, Komal's husband Gyanendra succeeded to the throne following the deaths of King Birendra, Crown Prince Dipendra (who had briefly succeeded him), and Prince Nirajan.

Komal thus became Queen of Nepal.

Komal's younger sister Prekshya also married into the Shah dynasty marrying Gyanendra and Birendra's brother Prince Dhirendra who was killed in the palace massacre.

Princess Prekshya was killed in a helicopter crash on 12 November 2001.

2007

The Nepalese Parliament voted on 28 December 2007 as part of a peace deal with former Maoist rebels, 270-3 in favour of abolishing the monarchy.

2008

On 28 May 2008, the monarchy was officially abolished, replaced by a secular federal republic.