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The Royal Family 2001 - 2008: Profiles |
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King
Gyanendra |
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Former King
Gyanendra: A profile
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His
Majesty King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev, born in July 1947, is the second
son of His Late Majesty King Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev and Late Crown
Princess Indra Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah.
King Gyanendra was born at the Narayanhity
Royal Palace, Kathmandu.
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King
Gyanendra was crowned at Hanumandhoka, Monday, June 04, 2001 amidst slight
drizzle and he later rode a six horse-drawn coach to Narayanhiti Royal
Palace as cannons boomed in the air heralding the new King's reign.
King
Gyanendra was briefly crowned as King at the tender age of three in November
1950 when his grandfather His Late Majesty King Tribhuvan fled to India
in support of the "People's Movement" against the autocratic Rana regime.
King
Gyanendra married Komal Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah, daughter of Kendra Shumsere
Jung Bahadur Rana, in 1970. They have a son and a daughter.
King
Gyanendra completed his Senior Cambridge from St. Joseph's College, Darjeeling,
India in 1966 and Bachelors Degree from Tribhuvan University, Nepal in
1969.
King
Gyanendra was the Chairman of Advisory Committee for the Coronation of
His Late Majesty King Birendra celebrated on February 24, 1975. King Gyanendra
is also the patron of Britain-Nepal Society and International Member of
the World Wild Life Fund since 1976.
King
Gyanendra has been a member of Raj Sabha (now, Raj Parishad Standing Committee)
since 1977. King Gyanendra is also the Chairman of King Mahendra Trust
for Nature Conservation (KMTNC) since its inception. He was also the Chairman
of Lumbini Development Trust since 1986 but resigned from the Chairmanship
in 1991. King Gyanendra has acted as the Chairman of the Regency Council
and Royal Representatives Council during the absence of His Late Majesty
King Birendra from the Kingdom.
King
Gyanendra has represented His Late Majesty King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah
Dev at National Day functions, organised by various Missions of friendly
countries in Kathmandu time and again till 1990.
King
Gyanendra led the Nepali delegation to the Third World Wild Life Fund International
Conference held in Germany in 1973, and also attended the last rites of
King Jigme Dorji Wangchhuk of Bhutan in 1972. King Gyanendra has undertaken
unofficial visits to Australia, New Zealand, Soviet Union, North European
countries, Canada and official visits to the People's Republic of China
in 1975, India in 1973, Japan in 1986, the Netherlands and USA in 1987.
King Gyanendra also led the Nepali delegation to the Trustee and Council
Meetings of WWF held in Demont, France in 1985.
King
Gyanendra has been honoured with Ati-Subikhyat Sevalankar in 1967, Suprasiddha
Prabala Gorkha Dakshina Bahu in 1969, Vishesh Seva Padak in 1970, Jyotirmaya
Subikhyat Tri- Sakti Patta, Om Ram Patta in 1975, Maha Ujjwala Kirtimaya
Nepal Shreepad in 1986, Tesro SAARC Shikhar Sammelan Smriti Padak, Mahagauravamaya
Tejaswi Tribhuvan Prajatantra Shripad I in 1995. He is also the reciepient
of The Grand Cross Order of the House of Orange, the Netherlands in 1968,
Nisan-E-Imtiyaz, Pakistan in 1970, Grand Cordon of Yugoslav Flag, Yugoslavia
in 1974, Order of the Golden Ark, the Netherlands in 1987, Grand Gwanghwa
Order of Diplomatic Service Merit, Republic of Korea in 1987.
King
Gyanendra enjoys studying nature, horse-riding and composing lyrics under
the pen name G.Shah.
Apart
from this King Gyanendra Shah has always contributed to the political,
socio-economic milieu of the country.
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