Queen Mantfombi's brother,[2] Sobhuza's successor Mswati III, would ultimately change their country's name to Eswatini in 2018.

[5] After a traditional upbringing in the Swazi royal family, the princess was betrothed to King Goodwill Zwelithini of the Zulu Nation in 1973.

Her intended husband was a chief recognised by the South African government as the traditional authority of Zululand.

Considering their relative dynastic seniority, the Swazi palace laid a condition for the marriage: the princess was to become the King's Great Wife, a position that would give her male children first place in the line of succession.

[15] KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sihle Zikalala called the news "heart-wrenching" and said the Queen was a bridge between the Zulu and eSwatini nations.