THE CROWN Prince of Nepal who allegedly massacred his family was taught by a Gwent man.

First reports said that Prince Dipendra shot his father, King Birendra, mother, Queen Aish-warya, sister, Princess Shruiti, brother, Prince Nirajan and four other relatives before turning the gun on himself because his parents had banned him from marrying the woman he loved.

Despite allegedly massacring his family, the 29-year-old Prince was named Nepal's new king but died in the early hours today after being on a life-support machine. Tredegar-born Neil Morgan, who taught Prince Dipendra eleven years ago at Budhanilkantha college in the Nepalese capital of Kathmandu, spoke last night of his "extreme shock" of the news.

Mr Morgan, who was educated at Larkfield school in Chepstow, described Prince Dipendra as a "very pleasant and likeable man".

Speaking from his Suffolk home, Mr Morgan, a lecturer in botany, told the Argus: "I taught Prince Dipendra when he was an 18-year-old student and he was always a very pleasant young man.

"His father, King Birendra, visited the school on a number of occasions and took a keen interest in his son's education.

"They seemed to have a good father-and-son relationship. The King would also come and watch him play at sports days.

"And Prince Dipendra was a very pleasant, well-adjusted and likeable young man who took a keen interest in environmental issues. He also liked playing soccer and running." Prince Dipendra, who also studied at Eton College, wanted to marry 22-year-old Devyani Rana who is the daughter of a prominent Nepalese politician. But his father and mother opposed to the match.

"Arranged marriages are normal in Nepal to followers of the Hindu religion," added Mr Morgan.

It is reported that the angry Prince had stormed out of a banquet at the royal palace of Narayanhiti in Kathmandu on Friday night returning minutes later armed with two assault rifles. He is then said to have slaughtered his entire family.

But on Sunday, his uncle the then regent, claimed that the massacre had been caused by an accidental explosion of a gun.

Mr Morgan said: "Remembering how he was at 18, this incident is totally out of character for him. He was a studious and dedicated pupil and I will always remember him with affection."

The bodies of the eight victims were cremated on pyres on Saturday as shocked people of the Himalayan kingdom mourned the mass murder of their royal family. Prince Dipendra's uncle, 53-year-old Prince Gyanendra, has been named monarch.

Police fired tear gas today to disperse thousands of protesters who gathered near Nepal's royal palace to mourn the massacre of nine members of the royal family. There were no immediate reports of injuries in the violence.