Yep & not part of the royal family,but the rulers themselves.The "OFFICIAL" version is that crown prince Dipendra used his Uzi to mow down his father,the late King Birendra(very popular,pro-democracy,pro-India),his mom & 2 siblings & a handful of courtiers.THe reason given was that he was not allowed to marry the girl he wanted.That bloodbath brought the current King Gyanendra(unpopular,pro-monarchy & pro-Chinese) to the throne.An evangelist who works in Nepal once told me that most people in Nepal believe that Gyanendra & his son had some definite role in orchestrating the palace massacre.Nepal is not about the monarchy vs. the maoists-the bigger issue is whether it will bring India & China to loggerheads.