Nepal’s former King Gyanendra Shah arrives in Kathmandu amidst tight security

Pro-monarchy supporters demanding the restoration of monarchy, which was abolished in 2008, chant slogans as they wait to welcome former King of Nepal Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev exterior the Tribhuvan International Airport, in Kathmandu, Nepal on March 9, 2025.
| Photo Credit: Reuters

Nepal’s former King Gyanendra Shah on Sunday (March 9, 2025) arrived right here amidst tight security, as pro-monarchy activists gathered on the airport to welcome him.

As quickly as Mr. Gyanendra landed on the Tribhuvan International Airport from Pokhara on board the Simrik Air helicopter, lots of of loyalists, together with leaders and cadres of pro-monarchists Rastriya Prajatantra Party, began chanting slogans in his favour.

The crowd carried placards with slogans resembling “We want our King back,” “Abolish federal republican system and reinstate the monarchy,” and “The King and the country are dearer than our life.”

Mr. Gyanendra, 77, returned to Kathmandu from Pokhara after visiting spiritual locations in completely different components of the nation.

Hundreds of loyalists using motorbikes carrying Mr. Gyanendra’s image and nationwide flags greeted him on either side of the highway exterior the airport.

Dozens of riot policemen had been guarding the Narayanhity Palace Museum, the erstwhile royal palace of the former king, as there have been rumours that Mr. Gyanendra would enter the palace alongside along with his supporters.

However, no untoward incidents occurred as the gang following Mr. Gyanendra headed in direction of Nirmal Niwas, the personal residence of the former monarch on the outskirts of Kathmandu.

Hundreds of security personnel had been deployed from the Kathmandu airport to the Nirmal Niwas to avert any untoward incident.

King supporters have been rallying in completely different components of the nation, together with Kathmandu and Pokhara, for the previous few days, demanding the reinstatement of the monarchy abolished in 2008 following the People’s Movement.

Manisha Koirala, a well-liked Bollywood actress who can also be the granddaughter of the primary elected Prime Minister B.P. Koirala, on her social media, requested all of the Nepalese to assemble on the Kathmandu airport to welcome the former monarch.

The pro-monarchists have turn out to be lively because the democracy day in February when Mr. Gyanendra stated, “Time has come for us to assume responsibility to protect the country and bring about national unity.”