• The late Zulu King hid royal status from his children, including current King Misuzulu, to keep them grounded.

• The royal family shows unity at the first King Zwelithini Day celebration. 

The late Zulu King Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu kept his children in the dark about their royal status to help them grow up normally, his daughter revealed.

Princess Nombuso of KwaKhethonthandayo Royal Palace shared these memories at the launch of King Zwelithini’s Day in KwaNongoma on Friday.

The King’s wives started the annual event to keep his memory and legacy alive.

Princess Nombuso said her father had a special love for his daughters and worked hard to keep all his children grounded.

“Our dad didn’t want us to know that he was a king. We realised later that our father was the Zulu King. He loved us and wanted to make sure that the royal status did not get into our heads. He wanted us to treat people with respect.

“As kids – including King Misuzulu KaZwelithini – we would do silly things when we studied in Pietermaritzburg and Dad would give us a serious punishment; he believed in corporal punishment,” said Princess Nombuso.

She added that her father was so handsome that young girls would get excited whenever he appeared on TV.

The event showed unity among royal family members who had been divided over the throne.

Even Queen Nompumelelo kaMchiza, who supports Prince Simakade kaZwelithini’s claim to the throne over King Misuzulu, was present at the event and joined the dancing.

King Misuzulu couldn’t attend as he was attending a campaign against gender-based violence in Durban, but was acknowledged in absentia. Princess Nombuso publicly reiterated the reigning monarch as the amaZulu King.

King Zwelithini Day will be celebrated every December before 16 December, which was King Dingane’s Day but is now Reconciliation Day.

Pictured above: The late Zulu King Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu was remembered with unity by his family and children.

Source: X