According to Major Manoj Mohora of British Gurkha Nepal, the invite-only programme, where Rowling was the chief guest, was one of the first in the series of events lined up for 2015 to mark the 200 years of the Gurkha soldiers in the British Army.

 “We extended an invite and she accepted. It is great to have her here and we hope to see other dignitaries mark the 200 years of Gurkhas fighting in the British Army,” Mohora said.  

Outside the front gate of the Hyatt Regency were a group of Harry Potter fans holding placards that read “JK Rowling is our queen”. They were barred from entering the hotel premises.

 “JK Rowling means a lot to us and even one minute with her would have changed our lives,” said Swastika Poudel, 20, a student of architecture.  “This is just sad. There are people who waited here for six hours but they weren’t admitted inside.”

A few of Rowling’s fans managed to sneak in and got a chance to see the famed author as she passed through the lobby in a red evening gown.

“She is a very private person,” said a member of Rowling’s entourage, specifically requesting fans not to approach her.  “She understands that there are fans who want to meet her, but this is a private trip and she is with her family.”

The seven series novels by Rowling is the tale of the titular character Harry and his friends Ron and Hermoine growing up in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, fighting the evil Voldermort.

The series has sold over 450 million copies in over 73 languages and has been spun into eight blockbuster movies. The impact of Harry Potter novels on popular culture has been phenomenal. The boy still lives.