- Title: NEPAL: KING BIRENDRA CROWNED AS MONARCH OF WORLD'S ONLY HINDU KINGDOM.
- Date: 25th February 1975
- Summary: 1. GV Lancers leading royal coach marching to bagpipes 0.06 2. LV Royal coach in procession ZOOM IN TO CU King 0.22 3. GV Coach and lancers in procession 0.37 4. GV Royals seated 0.42 5. SV Prince Charles (in naval uniform) seated with other royals 0.43 6. SV PAN King Birendra walks to dais 0.56 7. SV Royals stand and salute 1.00 8. SV Priest places crown onto king's head(bugles start playing) 1.17 9. SV King's 3-year old son in military uniform escorted to King and Queen and salutes(2 shots) 1.30 10. SV VIPs look on 1.34 11. LV&SV King and Queen receiving royals(2 shots) 1.44 12. GV ZOOM TO Crowd on pagoda steps clapping 1.47 13. SV ZOOM OUT FROM King walking in procession 1.57 14. SV Crowd on road-side clapping 1.58 15. GV King and Queen on elephant through streets(2 shots) 2.34 Initials ET/2205 ET/2246 Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 12th March 1975 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: KATMANDU: NEPAL
- Country: Nepal
- Reuters ID: LVABHENZY4XYKYOWYPQG6JTBLZ8R
- Story Text: King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev was crowned in the ancient Himalayan city of Katmandu on Monday (24 February) as the world's only Hindu monarch and the tenth successor to the throne of the Shah dynasty which founded modern Nepal.
The pearl, ruby and emerald crown, topped with bird of paradise plumes was placed on his head at exactly 8.37 a.m. (local time) -- the moment determined as most suspicious by the court astrologers.
A fusillade of shots from ancient muskets sounded outside the Hanuman Dokha Place courtyard where the ceremony took place, accompanied by the blowing of horns and other musical instruments as the climax of six days of festivities and preparations was reached.
Presidents, princes and representatives from 60 countries attended the coronation of the 29-year-old King. They included Britain's prince Charles, who sat next to Mrs Imelda Marcos, wife of the President of the Philippines.
King Birendra, with Queen Aishwarya at his side, sat on red plush cushions on a gilt throne, decorated with ten gold, hooded cobras rising from the back.
Earlier the King and Queen had driven to the place in a horse-drawn carriage. After the ceremony they paraded through the streets of Katmandu in a scarlet and gold howdah stop a painted elephant, drawing respectful applause from the thousands of Nepalese citizens who were gathered along their route.
King Birendra ascended to the throne over three years ago, on the death of his father, King Mahendra. But his coronation had to wait until the astrologers appointed an auspicious moment.
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