On this day, 50 years ago, on February 24, 1975 (January 14, 1975 in the lunar calendar), King Birendra of Nepal held a coronation ceremony in Kathmandu. Grand Coronation Ceremony in Kathmandu On February 24, 1975, the King and Queen of Nepal held a coronation ceremony in Kathmandu, the capital. The king became the only Hindu monarch in the world. 30-year-old Birendra studied at Eton College in the United Kingdom in his early years and later transferred to Harvard University in the United States for further study. He succeeded to the throne after the death of his father, the King of Nepal, in 1972. At his coronation, the king wore a $2 million crown inlaid with diamonds, pearls and emeralds. The coronation ceremony was followed by a parade, with 23 elephants carrying members of the royal family through the streets of Kathmandu.