The 240-year old monarchy in Nepal finally came to an end on Wednesday, June 11, 2008 as ex-King Gyanendra evacuated his royal palace and handed over to the state his crown, sceptre and throne. As the last King of Nepal ‘Gyanendra’ set out to live the life of a commoner, the doors of the Narayanhity Royal Palace for the very first time was thrown open to the locals. Hundreds, including the media, thronged the venue to see Gyanendra make his final exit. Ex-king Gyanendra, 61, began living in the palace from 2001 onwards following the assassination of his brother Birendra.

 

The outgoing king used the gate on the west instead of the main entrance in the south to make the final exit. There was unprecedented chaos as the former king's black Mercedes rolled out of the palace, bearing him and former queen Komal. However before leaving the palace, ex-king Gyanendra convened a press conference in the palace for the very first time to defend himself. He pronounced clearly that he had no hand in the assassination of his brother Birendra. Gyanendra and his family thereafter shifted to their summer mansion in the northwest of Kathmandu.