Hundreds of well-wishers gathered outside the private residence of Nepal’s former king, Gyanendra Shah, on Monday to mark his 78th birthday, in what has become the latest and most visible show of royalist sentiment in the Himalayan republic.
Dressed in a brown suit jacket and a traditional Nepali topi, the ousted monarch briefly addressed the crowd, thanking them for their continued support.
“I am thankful to everyone who came,” he said, standing before supporters waving flags, sounding traditional trumpets, and offering garlands and gifts in accordance with Nepali custom.
Nepal has been a federal democratic republic since 2008, when the 240-year-old monarchy was formally abolished by parliamentary vote following a decade-long Maoist insurgency and a popular uprising that forced King Gyanendra to step down. Yet in the past year, demonstrations in favour of the monarchy’s restoration have gained momentum, fuelled by dissatisfaction with political instability, accusations of corruption, and economic stagnation.
Waves of loyalist rallies throughout 2024 and into 2025 have drawn thousands across the country, with recent gatherings attracting significant attention from both media and politicians. The monarchist resurgence coincides with wider public discontent over the performance of successive governments, most recently that of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, who returned to office in 2024 after forging a coalition between his Communist Party and the centre-left Nepali Congress.
Critics of the current administration point to recurring deadlock in parliament, persistent inflation, and weak institutional delivery. Although the World Bank reports a modest improvement in economic indicators – with GDP growth at 4.9 percent in the first half of the 2025 financial year and headline inflation easing to five percent – more than 80 percent of the workforce remains in informal employment, and public confidence in political leadership remains low.
“There is no direction, only disorder,” said 33-year-old businesswoman Prajuna Shrestha, among those present outside Shah’s walled residence in Maharajgunj. “I wish him a long life and hope to see the monarchy return soon. If we look at the current situation, politics has deteriorated and the politicians have ruined our country.”
Shrestha and others cited the monarchy’s role in the historical unification of Nepal and its function as a unifying institution, particularly during periods of upheaval. Though Gyanendra’s reign is associated with a return to absolute rule in 2005 – when he suspended the constitution, dissolved parliament, and declared a state of emergency – his supporters increasingly characterise his rule as preferable to what they see as a dysfunctional republic.
Shah ascended the throne in 2001 following the death of his brother, King Birendra, in a palace massacre. His reign coincided with the peak of the Maoist rebellion, which began in the mid-1990s and claimed more than 13,000 lives. In 2005, Gyanendra assumed direct control of government, prompting mass protests in 2006 that united mainstream political parties with Maoist rebels in demanding his removal. The monarchy was formally abolished two years later.
Following his abdication, Shah retreated from public life and largely refrained from comment on political affairs. However, his increased visibility in recent months – including participation in cultural events and receiving visitors at his residence – has coincided with the resurgence of monarchist activity nationwide.
During Monday’s birthday reception, supporters queued for hours with offerings of food, flowers, and gifts, as Shah received them alongside members of his family. Many attendees wore national dress and carried portraits of the former king. The atmosphere resembled that of a state occasion, though Gyanendra himself holds no official position.
Despite the scale of popular mobilisation, there is no current legal pathway for the restoration of the monarchy. Any attempt to reinstate the institution would require constitutional amendment and broad political consensus – both of which remain unlikely under the present parliamentary structure.
Nevertheless, political observers note that the sustained visibility of royalist movements may exert pressure on mainstream parties to address the underlying grievances driving their support. The revival of pro-monarchy sentiment also highlights broader debates about identity, governance, and national direction within the republic.
While Gyanendra Shah has not made any political declarations, his acceptance of public demonstrations and ceremonial displays has served as a symbolic rallying point for those advocating constitutional monarchy. Whether this momentum will translate into a formal challenge to Nepal’s republican status remains to be seen.
For now, the scenes in Kathmandu suggest that, at least for a segment of the population, the monarchy remains a potent symbol amid a period of political and economic uncertainty.
