KATHMANDU (AFP) – Three Nepalese princesses have been summoned to appear before a judge in a dispute over their father's estate, in what would be the first court appearance by a former royal, an official said Tuesday.

The three women are the daughters of Nepal's late prince Dhirendra, who was killed in 2001 when his nephew, the crown prince, went on a shooting frenzy at the royal palace in Kathmandu.

They inherited his property after his death, but now a woman named Jaya Shah Pandey, who says she married Dhirendra in 1987, is claiming a share of his estate.

"The court on Monday ordered three daughters of late former prince Dhirendra to appear before the court to record their statements," said Manoj Shrestha, registrar at the Kathmandu district court.

"Disputes arose over the claims made by Jaya Shah Pandey."

Nepal's royal family left their sprawling city-centre palace in 2008 when the then Maoist government abolished the monarchy, ending a 240-year-old ruling dynasty and turning the Himalayan nation into a secular republic.

Former king Gyanendra now lives in a hunting lodge outside the capital and was recently ordered to pay his taxes and outstanding utility bills.

Dhirendra, Gyanendra's youngest brother, renounced his royal title and privileges in 1988 after separating from his first wife.

He never divorced her, but lawyers for Pandey say the pair married in 1987 and that he was able to marry again because the royal family was considered above the law while in power.

They say the couple had a daughter, Shreya Shah, who is also entitled to a share of his estate.

The three princesses, Puja, Seetashma and Dilasha are the daughters of Dhirendra's first wife, who was killed in a helicopter crash nine years ago. All three now live as commoners in Kathmandu.

Reports said they were refusing to part with any of their father's property, but a lawyer for the former princesses declined to comment when contacted by AFP.