Remarks by H.R.M. King Letsie III of the Kingdom of Lesotho, FAO Special Ambassador for Nutrition

GOODWILL AMBASSADOR FOR NUTRITION

His Majesty King Letsie III of Lesotho succeeded his father, Bereng Seeiso Moshoeshoe II, who was forced into exile in 1990. His father, briefly restored in 1995, died in a car crash in early 1996, when Letsie became King again. Educated at Ampleforth in Britain, His Majesty pursued his education at the National University of Lesotho where he graduated with a degree in law. He completed a Diploma in English Legal Studies at the University of Bristol and later spent a year at the University of Cambridge where he studied Development Studies. At the same time, he enrolled with Wye College of the University of London where he read Agricultural Economics. In 2000, King Letsie married Karabo Motšoeneng, with whom he has two daughters and a son.

King Letsie has demonstrated a keen love of agriculture and spends much of his leisure time visiting his family’s cattle posts and enjoying country life. His Majesty is the patron of the Prince Mohato Award, an initiative consisting of providing practical, cultural, and adventurous activities designed to encourage and stimulate the enthusiasm, responsibility, enterprise, and maturity of young people. In 2016, King Letsie was appointed FAO’s Special Ambassador for Nutrition, for which he has been a tireless supporter – participating in World Food Days and World Food Forum events, as well as representing FAO at a regional level in Africa.