When the doors of the former royal palace opened to the public in 2009, missing from the list of exhibits was an important symbol of the Nepali monarchy: the royal crown. Citing lack of space and a secure display case, the royal crown was locked up in a safe compartment in the saloon room of the palace.
Visitors expressed their interest in viewing the crown, and a working committee was created under Narayan Regmi in 2010-11. As per its recommendations, two rooms were prepped with bulletproof windows and CCTV cameras, a special bulletproof showcase was purchased in 2012, and five Nepal Army personnel were stationed to provide security but, four years down the line, the plan has not moved ahead.
Despite the security preparations, the lack of coordination amongst the government agencies over who would be responsible for the protection of the crown when it is on display has been cited as the main reason for the delay.
The museum and the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation had tried to insure the crown, but the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association deemed the royal crown — with its closely set diamonds, pearls, and emerald drops with a cascade of bird-of-paradise plumes — too priceless for valuation. The museum and the Ministry had also approached the Nepal Army regarding the safety of the crown, but never received an official reply. Unofficially, the Nepal Army had put forth a condition that if the crown is put on display, responsibility for its security should be divided amongst the Nepal Army, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force and Central Investigation Bureau.
Last year, the museum and the Ministry planned for the second time to place the crown on display on the occasion of Republic Day, but that plan took a back seat when the earthquake hit. Plans for its exhibition are now underway for the third time but the security concerns persist.