Good Morning POU! Lots of talk about royals and monarchies these days! This week let’s talk about the royal families of nations in Africa, both past and present.
The Kingdom of Lethoso
The Lethoso Royal Family in 2012.
Lesotho, an enclave of South Africa, is a constitutional elective monarchy. The current monarchy was established in 1824 when Moshoeshoe I, a tribal chieftain, united warring tribes into the Basotho kingdom. After his death in 1870, the kingdom was placed under the nominal control of the neighboring British Cape Colony, but the native tribes engaged in a revolt and full British control was not established until 1884 under the name Basutoland. While under British control, the monarchy continued under the title of Paramount Chief with a moderate degree of autonomy, particularly in the rural areas. Formal independence was granted in 1966 and a constitutional monarchy was established. However, the democratically elected government was overthrown in 1970 by the Prime Minister in a self-coup. The monarchy was sidelined from then on, including a military government between 1986 and 1993, when democracy was restored. The current monarch, King Letsie III, ascended to the throne in 1996.
The Royal Wedding of the current king in 2000. The ceremony was held in a stadium in the state capital of Maseru. 40,000 reportedly attended, including Nelson Mandela.
The Royal Family in the traditional Bathoso blankets of Lethoso
Under the current constitution, passed in 1993, the King is a constitutional monarch and the head of state, with power being exercised by the Parliament. While in practice hereditary, the King is officially appointed by the College of Chiefs using traditional practices. The College of Chiefs also appoints a regent if one is needed. The Prime Minister also has the power to declare the kingship vacant if the King either violates his oath of office or is deemed unfit to rule.
The brother of King Letsie III, Prince Seeiso Bereng Seeiso of Lesotho, in April 2006, he and Prince Harry formed a charity called Sentebale which means “forget-me-not” to support organizations working with Lesotho’s disadvantaged young people and children, particularly those orphaned as a result of HIV and AIDS.
Prince Seeiso of Lesotho and Princess Mabereng Seeiso of Lesotho attended the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the only foreign royals to do so.
The eldest daughter of King Letsie III, Princess Mohato Seeiso, at the age of 17 began a campaign against child brides and the importance of female education. She embarked on a nationwide tour to schools, educating the youth on early marriage and its disadvantages to girls. Now 21, she advocates for women’s rights and domestic violence awareness.