Kathmandu: Nepal's crown prince and heir to an embattled throne was admitted to hospital today after suffering what appeared to be a heart attack, hospital officials said.

"Prince Paras was brought to the hospital with a suspected heart attack just before lunchtime," Shanti Bhandari, an official in charge of admissions at Kathmandu's Norwic hospital, told AFP. The official did not reveal the seriousness of the prince's condition, but said that the royal -- known as a fast-driving playboy -- was "being attended to by all of our senior doctors."

Paras, 36, survived a June 2001 massacre at Nepal's royal palace where 10 members of the family, including the then King Birendra, were shot dead by crown prince Dipendra, who in turn killed himself. The massacre resulted in the crowning of Paras's father Gyanendra.

The monarchy is now facing the threat of abolition following last year's peace deal between Maoist insurgents and mainstream political parties.