King Mswati III

King Mswati III of Swaziland became leader of his country in 1986. His real name is Makhosetive, which means King of Nations. As a young prince, he developed a keen interest in the Royal Guard, the soldiers that protect his kingdom. He became the first Swazi royal to join the Swaziland Defence Force.

His father died of pneumonia in 1982. The royal family chose 14-year-old prince Makhosetive to be the next king. He spent four years training for his new position, while attending an elite school in England. He was crowned King of Swaziland on April 25, 1986, aged 18 years and 6 days. At that time, he was the youngest reigning monarch in the world.