A little over a year after he left the Narayanhiti Palace following the formal declaration of the erstwhile kingdom as a federal republic by the country's newly elected parliament, former king Gyanendra is said to be preparing to "break his long silence" next month.

former king Gyanendra. (File photo)

'Ghatana Ra Bichar', a Nepali weekly tabloid, has reported in its latest edition that the last Shah king, who has lived a very secluded existence with his wife in a small bungalow atop Nagarjun hills in the outskirts of Kathmandu since he was formally dethroned, is planning to issue a message"in the name of his fellow countrymen" coinciding with his 62nd birthday celebration on July 7.

Quoting unnamed sources close to the former king, the paper said that the monarch-turned-commoner is greatly upset looking at the current situation of the country and is bogged with fears that it might opt for a destructive path.

In his message the former king, now identified just with his name Gyanendra Shah, is expected to put forth his views on all sorts of problems that continues to plague the country even after a peace deal that ended the bloody civil war instigated by the Maoists three years ago.

The weekly also said that a "main organizing committee" has been formed under Khilendra Prasad Pandey, former Nepalese ambassador to Thailand, to mark the 62nd birthday of the former king with pomp and pageantry.

The birthday celebration will include special worship at various temples in Kathmandu Valley. nepalnews.com June 26 09