'Masenate Mohato Seeiso

Queen of Lesotho since 2000 yes 'Masenate Mohato Seeiso Queen consort of Lesotho Queen 'Masenate Mohato Seeiso.jpg 'Masenate in 2010 18 February 2000 – present Letsie III of Lesotho 2000 Princess SenatePrincess 'MaseeisoPrince Lerotholi Moshesh (by marriage) Thekiso Motšoeneng 'Makarabo Anna Karabo Motšoeneng 1976 06 02 y Maluti Adventist Hospital, Mapoteng, Lesotho Masenate Mohato Seeiso (born Anna Karabo Motšoeneng, June 2, 1976) is Queen of Lesotho as the wife of King Letsie III of Lesotho. She was the first commoner in modern history to marry into the royal family of Lesotho. Since becoming queen, she has become the patron of several charities and has worked to promote the work of projects related to HIV/AIDS. Early life Queen 'Masenate Mohato Seeiso was born Anna Karabo Motšoeneng at Maluti Adventist Hospital in Mapoteng in the Berea District, the eldest daughter of the five children of Thekiso Motšoeneng and his wife 'Makarabo. She was christened Anna in the Roman Catholic Church.https://worldfirstladies.com/2025/05/21/queen-masenate-mohato-seeiso/ Queen Masenate Mohato Seeiso World First Ladies February 5, 2026 In 1990 Queen 'Masenate enrolled at the Machabeng International College in Maseru and studied there until 1996, completing an International General Certificate for Secondary Education and an International Baccalaureate Diploma. While attending college, she took party in community service with the Angela School for the Disabled and Centre for the Blind. In 1997 she attended the National University of Lesotho (NUL)http://www.gov.ls/gov_webportal/arms%20of%20state/the%20office%20of%20the%20king/office_of_the_king.html Gov.ls 2018-01-07 https://web.archive.org/web/20180210034440/http://www.gov.ls/gov_webportal/arms%20of%20state/the%20office%20of%20the%20king/office_of_the_king.html 2018-02-10 dead and where she studied for a Bachelor of Science degree; her studies were interrupted by her relationship with King Letsie III of Lesotho.The Monarchy http://www.lesotho.gov.ls/gov_webportal/arms%20of%20state/the%20office%20of%20the%20king/office_of_the_king.html Lesotho.gov.ls October 20, 2016 October 21, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20161021002719/http://www.lesotho.gov.ls/gov_webportal/arms%20of%20state/the%20office%20of%20the%20king/office_of_the_king.html dead She is a French language learner at the Alliance Française. Relationship with Letsie III of Lesotho Queen 'Masenate first met King Letsie III of Lesotho in 1996. This was the same year he became King for the second time, following the death of his father in a road accident.A union symbolising national harmony http://www.worldreport-ind.com/lesotho/harmony.htm World Report October 20, 2016 May 30, 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090530011742/http://www.worldreport-ind.com/lesotho/harmony.htm usurped Engagement and marriage In October 1999, two years into her studies at the National University of Lesotho, she became engaged to King Letsie III. They were married on February 18, 2000, in Maseru. He was the only unmarried King in Africa. The ceremony was conducted in the Setsoto Stadium by Archbishop Bernard Mohlalisi, with 40,000 people present including dignitaries such as Nelson Mandela, Festus Mogae, Bakili Muluzi and Charles III, then Prince of Wales.Lesotho's batchelor king weds https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/647779.stm October 20, 2016 BBC News February 18, 2000 October 26, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211026051026/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/647779.stm live This marked the first time in the history of modern Lesotho where a royal had married a commoner. Karabo Motšoeneng married King Letsie III of Lesotho on February 18, 2000, in Maseru. She credited the royal family for making her welcome, in particular the influence of Queen 'Mamohato, the Queen Mother. 'Masenate and 'Mamohato grew close and the Queen found it difficult when Mamohato died in 2003, but praised her husband for supporting her at the time. In an interview with the Lesotho Times in 2014, she said "I like the fact that he listens when I advise him on various issues that are personal. For instance, I want him to be well-dressed for various functions. And, as the woman of the house, I also recommend a lot of things, food, music, movies and more educative television channels for all of us. His Majesty is a very reserved, respectful, patient, wise and humble person and he is all that in a very sweet way. These are the qualities he has sustained over the years. They have drawn me much closer to him. I love him dearly every day."'I'm looking forward to more happiness with His Majesty' http://lestimes.com/im-looking-forward-to-more-happiness-with-his-majesty/ October 20, 2016 Lesotho Times June 13, 2014 October 21, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20161021011749/http://lestimes.com/im-looking-forward-to-more-happiness-with-his-majesty/ live Motherhood and children Queen 'Masenate and King Letsie have three children; Princess Senate (b. 7 October 2001), Princess 'Maseeiso (b. 20 November 2004), and Prince Lerotholi (b. 18 April 2007), They were born in a Private Hospital. She later explained that she wished she had more children, saying "Maybe I should have had one early after Prince Lerotholi but now my biological clock is telling me the time is up. I have read a lot about reproductive health-related risks and some medical researchers, in their studies, don't recommend women to consider falling pregnant at my age. When your eggs are no longer that fresh to make a healthy baby, then it's better to be on the safe side." Public life Charity work thumb|right|Queen 'Masenate Mohato Seeiso with King Letsie III in 2013 Queen 'Masenate Mohato Seeiso is involved in a variety of charitable projects, including Patronage of the Lesotho Red Cross Society, the SOS Children's Village, and the Machabeng International College where she studied before becoming Queen. In addition to her work with the charity People with Disabilities, Queen 'Masenate is generally interested in working with projects seeking to improve the voices of disabled people in Lesotho. Following the death of the late Queen Mother 'Mamohato Bereng Seeiso in 2003, Queen 'Masenate Mohato Seeiso runs Hlokomela Bana (Take Care of Children).http://sentebale.org/celebrating-international-womens-day-inspiredbyher/ Sentebale 2017-02-17 2021-10-03 https://web.archive.org/web/20211003133320/https://sentebale.org/celebrating-international-womens-day-inspiredbyher/ live Public health work She has a strong interest in enabling the work undertaken with HIV/AIDS patients to be spoken of publicly, and has been involved in several awareness programmes in Lesotho. Queen 'Masenate has also undertaken visits to a variety of AIDS projects around the country, including orphanages. She also holds a First Aid Certificate. Honours National honours Lesotho : Dame Commander of the Most Dignified Order of Moshoeshoe. Lesotho : Prince Mohato Award Bronze Medal (06/1993). Foreign honours France : Commander of the Order of Academic Palms (05/07/2018).https://www.gov.ls/her-majesty-receives-french-award/ Her Majesty receives French award 2019-09-22 2019-09-22 https://web.archive.org/web/20190922135420/https://www.gov.ls/her-majesty-receives-french-award/ live Notes 2 'Mamohato Queen consort of Lesotho 2000–Present Category:1976 births Category:Commandeurs of the Ordre des Palmes Académiques Category:House of Moshesh Category:Lesotho Roman Catholics Category:Living people Category:Queens consort of Lesotho Category:National University of Lesotho alumni Category:People from Berea District