Hridayendra Shah

Hridayendra Shah (born 30 July 2002) is a former prince of Nepal. He was once second in line to become king before the country abolished its monarchy in May 2008. While the monarchy existed, he held the title Nava Yuvaraj, which means “Junior Crown Prince” in Nepali.

Early Life and Family

Hridayendra was born in Kathmandu at the Narayanhity Royal Palace. His parents are Paras Shah, the former Crown Prince, and Himani Shah, Crown Princess. His grandfather Gyanendra Shah was the last king of Nepal, and his grandmother Komal Shah came from the influential Rana family. On his mother’s side, Hridayendra is also linked to Indian royalty, particularly from the Sikar family of Rajasthan.

Eleven days after he was born, he was officially named Hridayendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev following traditional Hindu customs.

Ceremonial Traditions

Like many royal children in Hindu culture, Hridayendra took part in several religious ceremonies. At six months old, he had his Annaprasan (rice-feeding ceremony), a major milestone in a child’s life. The event was held in the royal palace and included important rituals. He was fed rice for the first time by his mother and other royal family members, and given gold coins by dignitaries such as the Prime Minister.

Later, Hridayendra was taken in a public chariot procession to various temples in Kathmandu. The Prime Minister symbolically acted as his guardian during the event, showing the bond between the people and the royal family.

Position in the Royal Succession

Before the monarchy ended, Hridayendra was second in line to the throne. In 2006, Nepal’s government passed a bill proposing that the royal succession should be based on gender equality instead of only passing to male heirs. However, the bill included a clause that didn’t change the position of those already in the line of succession. This meant Hridayendra remained ahead of his elder sister Princess Purnika, despite the new rule.

In 2007, there were political discussions about whether King Gyanendra and Crown Prince Paras should step aside in favor of young Hridayendra, but this idea was never accepted, especially by the Maoist political party, which opposed the monarchy altogether.

End of the Monarchy

In December 2007, it was decided that Nepal would become a republic, and the monarchy would be abolished after elections. On 28 May 2008, Nepal officially became a republic, ending over two centuries of monarchy.

Life After Monarchy

Hridayendra and his sisters Purnika and Kritika attended Lincoln School in Kathmandu during their early years. After the monarchy was abolished, Hridayendra moved with his family to Singapore in July 2008, where his father had already relocated to prepare for the family’s new life abroad.