King Dipendra, who died early today at age 29, knew all about privilege. He was revered as a god by many adoring Nepalese, studied at an elite British school and often raced around the streets of Katmandu in a Toyota Land Cruiser.

He had been king for little more than two days, all of that time in intensive care since, according to most reports, he shot his parents and other members of the royal family before turning the gun on himself.

Despite a lifetime of privilege, Dipendra was widely believed to be angered by an ancient tradition in Nepal: the arranged marriage.

Palace officials and local news media reports said Queen Aiswarya had rejected Dipendra's choice of a bride because of her clan; that apparently provided a motive for the shootings.