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The Kingdom of Lesotho
Formerly a British protectorate, Lesotho became independent in 1966. Although Lesotho is completely surrounded by the Republic of South Africa, it is a separate country.
The early years of Lesotho's independence were marked by political turmoil, and in 1990 King Moshoeshoe II went into exile. For a time his son Letsie III was Lesotho's figurehead monarch, but King Moshoeshoe resumed his reign in 1995.
After King Moshoeshoe's death in a car accident in 1996, King Letsie III once again took the throne. Under the terms of the 1993 constitution, the king plays a purely symbolic role in Lesotho's government.
King Letsie married Anna Karabo Mots'oeneng in 2000. She is now known as Queen 'Masenate Mohato Seeiso. Their first child, Princess Senate Mary Mohato Seeiso, was born in 2001. The couple had a second daughter, Princess 'MaSeeiso Mohato Seeiso, in 2004, and a son, Prince Lerotholi David Mohato Bereng Seeiso, in 2007.
According to tradition, the king's eventual successor will be appointed by Lesotho's College of Chiefs.
Lesotho Royal News
- Princes Seeiso and Harry at Haiti concert (with video)
Prince Seeiso of Lesotho (center) and Prince Harry of Great Britain (right)
(Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images. Photo provided by PicApp)
Seated: Prince Seeiso of Lesotho (left) and Prince Harry of the UK (right)
(Photo by Gareth Cattermole-Pool/Getty Images. Photo provided by PicApp)
- Prince Seeiso & Prince Harry discuss their charity (video)
- Sentebale (official site)
Britain's Prince Harry (left) and Lesotho's Prince Seeiso (right)
(UPI Photo/Lucas Jackson/Pool) Photo via Newscom
Photo provided by PicApp
Books About Lesotho
Unless otherwise noted, these books are for sale at Amazon.com. Your purchase through these links will help to support the continued operation and improvement of the Royalty.nu site.
A South African Kingdom: The Pursuit of Security in Nineteenth-Century Lesotho by Elizabeth A. Eldredge. Examines how the chiefdom of Basutoland (Lesotho's former name) became a kingdom and then a British colony. Available from Alibris.
Chiefdom Politics and Alien Law by Sandra Burman is about Basutoland under the rule of Britain's Cape colony from 1871 to 1884. Out of print, but available from Alibris.
Hill of Destiny by Peter Becker. The life and times of Moshesh, founder of the Basotho. From Alibris.
The Basotho Monarchy: A Spent Force or a Dynamic Political Factor? by Richard F. Weisfelder. First published in 1972. Sometimes available from Alibris.
Historical Dictionary of Lesotho by Gordon Haliburton. Sometimes available from Alibris.
The Dark Kingdoms by Alan Scholefield. About the impact of white civilization on three great African monarchies: Congo, Dahomey, and Lesotho. Published in 1975. Out of print, but available from Alibris.
Travel Guide
The Rough Guide to South Africa: Lesotho and Swaziland by Tony Pinchuck, Barbara McCrea, Donald Reid, Greg Mthembu-Salter.
Other Books About Lesotho
Books About South Africa
More Books About African Royalty & History
Related Topics
African Royalty
Royalty in South Africa
Swazi Royalty
Other Websites
Lesotho Government Official Website
Wikipedia - Lesotho
Lesotho's King Letsie III Crowned Again
A Union Symbolising National Harmony
Sentebale - The Princes' Fund for Lesotho
BBC Country Profile: Lesotho
CIA World Factbook - Lesotho
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