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Before she married into the House of Grimaldi and became a European royal, Princess Charlene of Monaco was Charlene Wittstock, an Olympic swimmer, born in Zimbabwe but raised in South Africa, who she represented in the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000. Earlier this week, she returned to her roots, when she attended the funeral of South Africa’s Zulu monarch, King Goodwill Zwelithin.

The leader of the country’s largest ethnic group of 11 million people, King Goodwill died of Covid-19 aged 72 last week. He was the longest serving Zulu King, ascending to the throne on 3 December 1971 and reigning for half a century through some of the country’s most tumultuous years, including of course the apartheid years. A modern ruler, just last year he spoke out about South Africa’s so-called ‘second pandemic’ – of violence against women. ‘The killing of my daughters has made me ashamed to be king of the Zulus,’ he said. ‘I ask myself, “how can I be leader of such a cruel nation?” AmaZulu, what happened to the humanity you are known for?’

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As well as Princess Charlene, others at the funeral including the King’s six widows, as well as the country’s former President Jacob Zuma, President of African football federation Patrice Motsepe and his wife Bridgette Radebe. She looked elegant in a black lace veil, which is the traditional mourning attire. The King’s widows sat with their faces entirely covered by black lace veils at the front of the memorial.

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South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered an impassioned eulogy, in which he spoke of the King’s legacy: ‘The passing of his Majesty means that We have lost a revered leader who had the distinction of leading the Zulu people for half a century. The significance of his long reign and his legacy is not lost on us. History will recall that after many years of conflict and turmoil, it was in the course of his reign that the Zulu kingdom achieved the stability and harmony that had so long eluded it. It was during the course of his reign, that his people – alongside all the people of our nation – realised their dream of freedom from the injustices of colonialism and apartheid. And it was during his reign that the decades of dispossession – and the wilful destruction of our knowledge and economic systems, culture and governance institutions – came to an end.’

He is survived by his six wives and between 28-32 children – the exact number has not been confirmed.