Lesotho is a kingdom, with his Majesty King Letsie III the current ruler. King Letsie is the first-born son of the late King Moshoeshoe II, who passed away in 1996, and his Queen ‘Mamohato, who passed away in September of 2003. Educated both in Lesotho and the United Kingdom, King Letsie ascended to the throne on the 31st of October 1997. He later (2000) married a local lady from the District of Leribe, now her Royal Highness Queen ‘Masenate.

 

King Letsie’s education started at in Maseru and he completed his Primary high school studies in the United Kingdom. He returned to Lesotho to pursue undergraduate studies in Law at the National University of Lesotho, previously the University of Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland. Upon completion of these studies, he returned to the United Kingdom where he continued his legal studies to postgraduate level, and then undertook studies in Development and Agricultural economics.

The king was installed as the Paramount Chief of Matsieng in 1989. Today, one of his palaces is to be found in Matsieng, and he spends a fair amount of time there.

He was initially installed as King in 1990 during the absence of his father King Moshoeshoe from the country, but abdicated in favour of his father when the latter returned some years later. He was then sworn in again in January 1996, after the tragic death of his father in a car accident.   

The King and Queen have three children, Princesses Senate and ‘MaSeeiso, and Prince Lerotholi. They have homes in Matsieng, their Royal residence just outside Maseru, and the Royal Palace in the centre of the Capital city. King Letsie has a younger brother, Highness Prince Seeiso Seeiso who is currently Lesotho’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, and had a sister, Princess Princess Constance Christina Maseeiso, who sadly passed away in 1994).

The royal family is well-respected and loved by all in Lesotho, and by the Basothos who still cherish the traditional hierarchy of Kings and Chiefs. Much of this is as a result of their being willing over the years to interact with the public without the same aloofness that one finds with other royal families. Given that Lesotho is a constitutional monarchy, the King's role is however largely ceremonial.