Dipendra: Gentle man who went berserk?

The prince, who had previously been held in high regard, had given no sign that he was capable of killing his mother and father.

He did have an interest in guns and hunting and was a karate black belt - but those who knew him described him as an amiable and gentle man.

Attended Eton

Born in 1971, he was educated in Nepal and later at Eton, the top private school in the UK which is often first choice for the sons and daughters of world leaders.

Prince Dipendra once said his schooling there had given him a sense of "fair play and discipline".

On Saturday the Provost of Eton, Eric Anderson, said Dipendra was remembered as a "great student. "Those who knew him at the college are deeply shocked by what has happened."

The only blemish on his record prior to the murders were allegations that he drank heavily while at Eton.

He was declared heir-apparent in 1972 and in 1990 made colonel-in-chief of the Royal Nepal Army.

Ceremonial duties

He was largely restricted to performing ceremonial roles - meeting foreign dignitaries and inaugurating conferences.

But he did take on responsibility when his father made visits abroad.

Recently, the prince was seen attending parliament for the first time in what was considered to be an effort to familiarise himself with the workings of the Nepalese constitution.

His hobbies are reported to include flying helicopters, swimming, squash, listening to Nepali folk songs and modern and classical western music and reading poetry.