In July 1973 the King's cousin, in Afghanistan, staged a coup against him. It brought to an end centuries of monarchy and for the first time established a republic in the country. Twelve officers were in charge of carrying out the long-planned coup. Zia Majid was one of them and still remembers the day vividly. (Photo: Coup leader Daoud Khan, centre, Zia Majid standing on the right)