Educated at premier institutes in Europe, Asia, and America, including the elite Eton College and Harvard University, he traveled a great deal before ascending the throne.
He was more open to parliamentary democracy than his father, and restored it after a referendum in 1990. However, the quarrels between various political parties and numerous social problems caused a Maoist rebellion called the Nepalese People's War, which has been escalating since 1996. Nepal's stability was threatened even more when he and most of his family (including Queen Aiswarya) were killed by his oldest son and heir, Dipendra.
Birendra was described by the international press as an absolute ruler during the years from his acession in 1972 to 1990, when a popular movement spearheaded by various political parties forced him to accept a new constitution acknowledging the supremacy of parliament.
Birendra himself resented being called an absolute ruler and maintained that he presided over a democracy, although one in which representatives to the assembly were indirectly elected.
Birendra was a traditional monarch even with reduced powers, still surrounding himself with elaborate protocol, retaining an important religious role, and keeping well away from the press.
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