Crowning of Mswati III

Date: April 25, 1986 • Location: Rome, Italy

Mswati III (pictured) was crowned King of Swaziland, succeeding his father Sobhuza II.

Mswati III is the Ngwenyama (King) of Eswatini and head of the Swazi royal family since 1986. He is the head of an absolute monarchy, holding executive authority over all branches of government and constitutionally immune from prosecution. Along with his mother Queen Ntfombi, Mswati is the last remaining absolute monarch in Africa and one of twelve remaining absolute monarchs worldwide.