Tribhuvan (1906–1955) was
King of Nepal from 11 December 1911 until his death. Born in the Nepalese capital,
Kathmandu, he ascended to the throne at the age of five, upon the death of his father
Prithvi Bir Bikram Shah, and was crowned in 1913 with his mother acting as
regent. At the time of his crowning, the position of monarch was largely ceremonial, with the real governing power residing with the
Rana dynasty. During
World War I, the Ranas wanted Nepal to join the war in support of the United Kingdom, while the royal family wished to remain neutral. Eventually, Prime Minister
Chandra Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana pressured the young king while threatening his mother, forcing him to order the troops to war. This photograph, held by
Madan Puraskar Pustakalaya, was taken at Tribhuvan's coronation in 1911.
Photograph credit: unknown; restored by CAPTAIN MEDUSA