King Gyanendra appointed Queen Komal the Prithuladish or the Grand Master of all the kingdom’s orders and decorations at an ornate investiture ceremony at the Narayanhiti Royal Palace Wednesday. The King also conferred on the Queen the order of the Pratap Bhaskar.

The appointment is significant because normally an adult Crown Prince is the custodian of such orders and decorations. The King has not declared his only adult son Prince Paras Crown Prince and heir to the Throne after ascending the Throne on June 4.

Royal family members, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and senior officials congratulated the Queen in traditional Nepali court style.