Khin Khin Win, Former First Lady of Nepal (wife of President Thein Sein – took office on Feb 4, 2011)

Queen Komal of Nepal

Queen Komal Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah (born 18 February 1951) is the Queen Consort of King Gyanendra of Nepal. She was the last Queen Consort of Nepal before the Monarchy was abolished on 28 May 2008.

Queen Komal was born in Kathmandu into the Rana family, the daughter of Kendra Shumsher Jang Bahadur Rana (1927-1982) and his wife Shree Rajya Laxmi Rana (1928-2005).

Queen Komal’s older sister Aiswarya was married to King Birendra of Nepal, the brother of Gyanendra. Aiswarya was killed in the palace massacre on the 1 June 2001 which was carried out by her son Dipendra. Komal sustained bullet injuries as a result of the palace shooting and spent four weeks recovering in hospital.

As a result of the massacre, Komal’s husband Gyanendra succeeded to the throne following the deaths of King Birendra, Crown Prince Dipendra (who had briefly succeeded him), and Prince Nirajan. Komal thus became Queen of Nepal.

Komal’s younger sister Prekshya also married into the Shah dynasty marrying Gyanendra and Birendra’s brother Prince Dhirendra who was killed in the palace massacre. Princess Prekshya was killed in a helicopter crash on 12 November 2001.

Queen Komal married Gyanendra on 1 May 1970, and they have two children:

Crown Prince Paras (born 1971)
Princess Prerana (born 1978)

The Nepalese Parliament voted on 28 December as part of a peace deal with former Maoist rebels, 270-3 in favour of abolishing the monarchy.

On 28 May 2008, the monarchy was officially abolished, replaced by secular federal republic.