Letsie III, King of Lesotho, reigned 1996 – present; Credit – Wikipedia

The Kingdom of Lesotho is a country completely within the borders of South Africa. From 1822 – 1868, Lesotho was called Basutoland and was ruled by King Moshoeshoe I, the son of a minor tribal chief. In 1868, Basutoland became a British Crown Colony.  Kings and then Paramount Chiefs still held power in Basutoland during the period of British colonization.  Basutoland gained its independence from the United Kingdom and became the Kingdom of Lesotho in 1966. King Letsie’s father, King Moshoeshoe II, was the first King of Lesotho.

House of Moshoeshoe (1822 – present)

Rulers since 1966

• King Moshoeshoe II of Lesotho (reigned 1966 – 1996)
• King Letsie III of Lesotho (reigned 1996 – present)
• Queen ‘Masenate Mohato Seeiso of Lesotho (Anna Karabo Mots’oeneng, wife of Letsie III)
  • Notable Issue: Prince Lerotholi Seeiso of Lesotho