Thousands rally in support of Nepal’s former king and call for monarchy’s return

Thousands of supporters gathered outside Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport on Friday to welcome Nepal’s former king Gyanendra Shah, in a demonstration calling for the restoration of the country’s abolished monarchy.

As Shah returned from a trip to eastern Nepal, enthusiastic crowds cheered while he waved from the sunroof of his vehicle. Police officers in riot gear worked to manage the throng of supporters who had assembled at the airport’s main entrance, many chanting “Bring back the king. We love our king more than our own selves. Restore constitutional monarchy.”

The demonstration remained peaceful, with additional supporters lining the route from the airport to Shah’s private residence. No arrests were reported during the event.

This public show of support for the former monarch comes at a politically significant time in Nepal, with parliamentary elections scheduled for next month. Pro-monarchy groups, which secured approximately 5% of seats in the previous election, hope to increase their representation in the upcoming vote.

Nepal’s monarchy was abolished in 2008, marking a dramatic shift in the country’s governance after centuries of royal rule. The path to abolition began in 2006, when massive street protests forced Gyanendra to relinquish his authoritarian control. Two years later, the parliament voted to end the monarchy entirely, and Gyanendra left the Royal Palace to live as a private citizen.

Friday’s demonstration echoes a similar rally last year that drew an estimated 10,000 supporters to the airport. However, pro-monarchy sentiments have occasionally sparked violence in Nepal’s fragile democracy. Another royalist rally last year turned deadly, resulting in two fatalities and numerous injuries.

Political analysts note that while there appears to be growing nostalgia for the monarchy among certain segments of Nepal’s population, the movement faces significant challenges. The support for restoration, though vocal, remains substantially smaller than that commanded by established political parties that oppose a return to royal rule.

“There’s a certain romanticization of the monarchy among some Nepalis who are dissatisfied with the current political situation,” explained Rajesh Kumar, a political scientist at Tribhuvan University in Kathmandu. “But the practical path to restoration would require constitutional changes that seem unlikely given the current political landscape.”

Nepal’s transition to a federal democratic republic has been marked by political instability, with frequent changes in government leadership and coalition politics dominating the landscape. Some supporters of restoration view the monarchy as a potentially stabilizing institution amid this turbulence.

Gyanendra himself has maintained a notably reserved position on these demonstrations, offering no public comment on calls for his return to power. This silence has been a consistent feature of his public persona since leaving the throne, though he occasionally appears at religious ceremonies and cultural events.

The pro-monarchy movement in Nepal represents one facet of the broader political dynamics in this mountainous nation of approximately 30 million people. Since abolishing the monarchy, Nepal has implemented a new constitution and navigated the challenges of establishing democratic institutions after centuries of royal rule.

As the country approaches next month’s elections, the demonstrations for Shah highlight the complex legacy of monarchy in Nepal’s national identity and ongoing political conversation. While restoration remains unlikely in the near term, the persistent support for the former king indicates that Nepal’s relationship with its royal past continues to evolve.