Queen Komal of Nepal

Queen 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). Queen Komal's older sister Aishwarya was married to King Birendra of Nepal, the brother of Gyanendra. 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.[1]

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. They divorced in 1991.[2] Princess Prekshya was killed in a helicopter crash on 12 November 2001.

Queen Komal married her second cousin Prince Gyanendra of Nepal on 1 May 1970 in Kathmandu, and they have two children.

• Crown Prince Paras (born on 30 December 1971 in Kathmandu).
• Princess Prerana (born on 20 February 1978 in Kathmandu).

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

On 28 May 2008, the monarchy was officially abolished, replaced by secular federal republic.[4]

• Member of the Raj Sabha (1977).
• Patron Association of St Mary's Alumnae Nepal.
• Chairman of the Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT).
• President of the SOS Children's Villages-Nepal (2001).

• Lady Komal Rajya Lakshmi Rana (1951–1969).
• HRH Princess Komal Rajya Lakshmi Devi Shah of Nepal (1969–2001).
• HM The Queen of Nepal (Shree Panch Badamaharani) Komal Rajya Lakshmi Devi Shah (2001–2008).

National Honours

Arms of Komal as dame of the Order of Isabella the Catholic

• Member of Order of Gorkha Dakshina Bahu (1975)
• Member of the Order of Om Rama Patta (1980)
• Member of the Order of Tri Shakti Patta (1998)
• Member of the Order of Nepal Pratap Bhaskara (17/10/2001)
• Member of the Order of Ojaswi Rajanya (07/04/2004)
• Recipient of the Vishesh Seva Medal (Distinguished Service Medal, 1971)
• Recipient of the King Birendra Investiture Medal (24/02/1975)
• Recipient of the Commemorative Silver Jubilee Medal of King Birendra (31/01/1997)
• Recipient of the Vishista Seva (Distinguished Service Medal, 1999)
• Recipient of the King Gyanendra Investiture Medal (04/06/2001)

Foreign Honours

•  Thailand:
  • Dame Grand Cordon of the Order of the White Elephant (1979)
•  France:
  • Dame Grand Cross of the National Order of Merit (02/05/1983)[5]
•  Spain:
  • Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic (13/11/1987)[6]