The Nepalese royal massacre, took place on June 1, 2001. It was a shocking and tragic event in which Crown Prince Dipendra, according to official reports, shot and killed his father, King Birendra; his mother, Queen Aishwarya; and seven other members of the royal family before turning the gun on himself. He later died in hospital after being in a coma for three days.

The incident occurred during a dinner party at the royal palace in Kathmandu. Crown Prince Dipendra was reportedly intoxicated and had been using drugs. After an alleged dispute, he left the gathering, only to return armed and start shooting. The reasons behind this act have been the subject of much speculation, with theories ranging from his anger over his family's disapproval of his choice of bride to mental instability.

Crown Prince Dipendra was declared king while he was in a coma, but he died shortly after without regaining consciousness. His younger brother, Gyanendra, was then declared king. However, the shocking event and the subsequent handling of the incident by the authorities led to widespread public outrage and unrest. The monarchy’s credibility and popularity, already on the wane, were severely damaged.

King Gyanendra's rule was marked by increasing political instability. He assumed direct power in 2005, citing the government's failure to manage the ongoing Maoist insurgency. However, this move was met with widespread protests, leading to a peace agreement with the Maoists and the reinstatement of the parliament in 2006. In 2008, following a national election, Nepal was declared a federal democratic republic, officially ending the 240-year-old monarchy.