Can King Gyanendra Return as King of Nepal?
Nepal’s ex-King Gyanendra eyes a comeback in 2025 amid monarchist surge and republican woes. Possible or pipe dream? Find out.
In recent months, Nepal has witnessed a growing wave of monarchist sentiment, bringing back into the national spotlight a once-dismissed question: Can former King Gyanendra Shah return to the throne? The return of the monarchy, abolished in 2008 after a two-century-long rule, was once thought inconceivable. But massive crowds greeting the former king and rising discontent with the current political system have reignited this once-dormant debate.
The Fall of the Monarchy: A Brief Recap
His brief stint as an absolute monarch from 2005 to 2006, in an effort to suppress the Maoist insurgency, backfired dramatically. A nationwide pro-democracy movement forced him to relinquish power. The subsequent peace process and political consensus led to the monarchy’s formal abolition and the declaration of a secular republic.
Democratic Disillusionment and the Monarchist Revival
These realities have led to nostalgia for the monarchy among some sections of the population. A dramatic scene on March 9, 2025, at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, saw around 10,000 people chanting slogans like “Come back King!” and “We want monarchy!” This groundswell of support reflects growing disenchantment with the current political leadership.
Gyanendra’s Growing Public Presence
Despite this growing support, Gyanendra has avoided directly calling for a return to the throne. His careful public messaging allows him to maintain relevance while avoiding direct conflict with the republican order.
The Political Response: Alarm and Dismissal
Parliament itself discussed the monarchist surge in a heated session on March 12, 2025, revealing just how seriously the political establishment is taking the movement.
Legal and Constitutional Hurdles
Monarchist groups argue that a "Doctrine of Necessity" or a popular mandate could override constitutional barriers. They also claim that initial peace agreements after 2006 included a “gentlemen’s agreement” to retain a ceremonial monarchy—an agreement they say was ignored by the political elite.
Divided Monarchist Camp
Regional Power Dynamics
China, on the other hand, has built strong ties with Nepal’s communist parties and may be less supportive of a monarchist shift. Any move to restore the monarchy would have to account for the reactions of these powerful neighbors.
So, Can Gyanendra Become King Again?
While the revival of monarchist sentiment is real and growing, the road to the throne for Gyanendra is anything but straightforward. Legal obstacles, political resistance, divided monarchist camps, and international sensitivities make a full restoration unlikely in the immediate future.
However, history shows that monarchies can return—Spain did it in 1975 and Cambodia in 1993. If public frustration deepens and the political system fails to reform, a compromise could emerge—perhaps a ceremonial monarchy embedded within a democratic framework, similar to the British or Japanese model.
Several leaders, including Rabindra Mishra and Nawa Raj Subedi, have supported this middle path, suggesting that Gyanendra could serve as a symbolic head of state focused on national unity and cultural preservation.
Final Thoughts
King Gyanendra's return to the throne is not imminent, but it's no longer an irrelevant question either. As frustrations mount, the monarchy has become a powerful symbol for those disillusioned with the current system. Whether this sentiment transforms into political change depends on the evolving dynamics of Nepal’s democracy, the unity of pro-monarchist forces, and the willingness of political elites to reconsider the country's constitutional setup.
In the meantime, Gyanendra remains a “king without a crown”—but not without a crowd. His presence will likely continue to shape Nepal’s political discourse in the years ahead.