page_title: Mswati III
section_title: Family and succession
hierarchical_section_title: Mswati III / Family and succession
caption_attribution_description: English: Mrs. Akie Abe held a meeting with Their Royal Highnesses Queen Carol LaNgangaza, Queen LaMagongo, Queen Ayanda LaNtentesa, and Queen LaNkambule. While introducing her own efforts to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS prevention, Mrs. Abe conveyed her wish to cooperate with Their Highnesses to further promote women’s participation in society.
context_page_description: Mswati III is the king of Eswatini and head of the Swazi Royal Family. He was born in Manzini in the Protectorate of Swaziland to King Sobhuza II and one of his younger wives, Ntfombi Tfwala. He was crowned as Mswati III, Ingwenyama and King of Swaziland, on 25 April 1986 at the age of 18, thus becoming the youngest ruling monarch in the world at that time. Together with his mother, Ntfombi Tfwala, now Queen Mother, he rules the country as an absolute monarch. Mswati III is known for his practice of polygamy and currently has 15 wives. His policies and lavish lifestyle have led to local protests and international criticism.
  In April 2020, he was reported to have been admitted to hospital with breathing difficulties, and, as of 13 April, to be in a critical condition. In March, Mswati III had come into contact with visiting Taiwanese soldiers, two of whom were later quarantined for COVID-19. The Eswatini government claimed that the reports were "fake news".
context_section_description: The king currently has 15 wives and 23 children. A Swazi king's first two wives are chosen for him by the national councillors. There are complex rules on succession. Traditionally the king is chosen through his mother as represented in the Swazi saying Inkhosi, yinkhosi ngenina, meaning "a king is king through his mother". According to tradition, he can marry his fiancées only after they have become pregnant, proving they can bear heirs. Until then, they are termed liphovela, or "concubines".
caption: Some of his wives meeting the wife of the Japanese prime minister  in 2013
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