Mamohato Bereng Seeiso (née Princess Tabitha 'Masentle Lerotholi Mojela) (28 April 1941 – 6 September 2003) served as the

Regent A regent (from Latin : ruling, governing) is a person appointed to govern a state '' pro tempore'' (Latin: 'for the time being') because the monarch is a minor, absent, incapacitated or unable to discharge the powers and duties of the monarchy ...

Head of State A head of state (or chief of state) is the public persona who officially embodies a state Foakes, pp. 110–11 " he head of statebeing an embodiment of the State itself or representatitve of its international persona." in its unity and l ...

Lesotho Lesotho ( ), officially the Kingdom of Lesotho, is a country landlocked country, landlocked as an Enclave and exclave, enclave in South Africa. It is situated in the Maloti Mountains and contains the Thabana Ntlenyana, highest mountains in Sou ...

on three occasions: 5 June to 5 December 1970, 10 March to 12 November 1990 and 15 January to 7 February 1996.

Biography

'Mamohato was born at Tebang, located in the District of Mafeteng. She was the youngest child of Lerotholi Mojela (1895–1961), Chief of Tsakholo. The princess was sent to study at Bath Training College of

Home Economics Home economics, also called domestic science or family and consumer sciences, is a subject concerning human development, personal and family finances, consumer issues, housing and interior design, nutrition and food preparation, as well as texti ...

in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...

. A year after the death of her father, she married

Moshoeshoe II Moshoeshoe II (2 May 1938 – 15 January 1996), previously known as Constantine Bereng Seeiso, was the Paramount Chief of Basutoland, succeeding paramount chief Seeiso from 1960 until the country gained full independence from Britain in 1966. ...

. During her reign, she helped improve children's education in Lesotho. The queen died on September 6, 2003 of heart failure while at a

Catholic The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...

retreat for the Order of Saint Cecilia at the Auray Mission in

Mantsonyane Mantšonyane is a town in central Lesotho. It is located southeast of the capital Maseru, close to the western approach to the Mokhoabong Pass, on a high mountain plateau between the towns of Marakabei and Thaba-Tseka, in the Thaba-Tseka Distr ...

Charity work and legacy

There is a hospital named for her, the Queen 'Mamohato Memorial Hospital. The queen, known as the "''Mother of the Nation''" created ''Hlokomela Bana'' in the 1980s to provide care and support for some of the most vulnerable children in Lesotho. Hlokomela Bana, which means “Take Care of Children” in

Sesotho Sotho () or Sesotho () or Southern Sotho is a Southern Bantu language of the Sotho–Tswana ("S.30") group, spoken primarily by the Basotho in Lesotho, where it is the national and official language; South Africa (particularly the Free Sta ...

, works closely with principal chiefs to identify what support can be best provided to those who have lost their parents or are living with disabilities.

Family

She was the wife of King

and the mother of King

Letsie III Letsie III (born Seeiso Bereng; 17 July 1963) is King of Lesotho. He succeeded his father, Moshoeshoe II, who was forced into exile in 1990. His father was briefly restored in 1995 but died in a car crash in early 1996, and Letsie became king ag ...

, Prince Seeiso and Princess Constance Christina 'Maseeiso.

Titles

*1941–1962: Tabitha 'Masentle Lerotholi Mojela. *1962–1966: HRH Princess 'Mamohato Bereng Seeiso. *1966–1996: HM The Queen. **5 June – 5 December 1970, 10 March – 12 November 1990, 15 January – 7 February 1996: HM The Queen Regent *1996–2003: HM Queen 'Mamohato Bereng Seeiso, The Queen Mother

References

1941 births 2003 deaths 20th-century women rulers Women rulers in Africa Heads of state of Lesotho House of Moshesh Lesotho women in politics Lesotho Christians African queen mothers {{Africa-royal-stub