In 1990 , under King Birendra , Nepal became a constitutional monarchy after a mass move movement from people forced Birendra Shah to restore democracy . On 1 June 2001 , a number of members of the Shah dynasty were murdered in the royal palace . A High Commission report concluded that the royal family was slaughtered by Crown Prince Dipendra . This remains controversial . Among the dead were the Crown Prince 's father , King Birendra and his brother , Prince Nirajan . After the attack , Dipendra was in a coma and was declared king for a short time . He died a few days later . Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev , Dipendra 's uncle , took the throne . In February 2005 , he dismissed the parliament in order to govern in his own right
murdered in the royal palace
Nepalese royal massacre
Shah dynasty