Queen mother of Swaziland

Die 1 voordeel om by 'n 5*-hotel te werk is om bekendes en royalties omtrent gereeld te sien. Die Arabella Western Cape Hotel was weer in die bevoorregte posisie om die Queen Mother of Swaziland te huisves vir 'n week-lange vakansie vir haar en haar entourage.

Die voorbereiding vir haar besoek was iets yslik en toe ons hoor sy kom was ons in ekstase want dit het bedoel 'n kontrak van so R1.6miljoen!

Ek was nie self daar toe sy ge-arriveer het nie, maar ek was wel by die vaarwel. Ek het hoendervleis tot in my kleintoontjies gekry. Die swartmense wat as kelners en in Housekeeping werk het gesing (en hulle kan mos sing)! Toe ek my weer kom kry sing ek Zoeloe en Xhosa liedjies saam wat ek nog nooit gehoor het nie...

Hier 'n bietjie agtergrond oor die Queen Mother:

Ntombi, Indovukazi of Swaziland (born c. 1950), has been the Indovukazi (Great She-Elephant) and Joint Head of State of Swaziland since 1986. She was also Regent of Swaziland 1983-1986. She was born Ntombi laTfwala. She is the mother of Mswati III.
After the death of Sobhuza II (Ntombi's husband) in 1982, his widow Queen Dzeliwe assumed the regency, since it is the custom for one of the Queens to assume regency before a new King is
selected. However, Queen Dzeliwe was placed under house arrest in 1983. Then,
after a 9-day period ruled by Prince Sozisa Dlamini, Ntombi was selected as queen regent. A month later, her son Mswati III was selected as Crown Prince. In 1986,
when he turned 18, he was crowned King. When he was made King, as was the
custom, he made his mother the Indovukazi (a title roughly corresponding to
Queen Mother, lit. Great She-Elephant) and Joint Head of State. As Queen Mother,
Queen Ntombi is seen as the spiritual and national head of state, while her son
is considered the Administrative Head of State.

Hier is 'n paar foto'jties van haar aankoms by die Hotel:

'n Groepie koorlede - dit is werknemers van die hotel wat so aangetrek is!

Die Queen Mother arriveer met haar hele delegasie

(daar was 26 ander kamers vir haar entourage)

Mnr Thomas (die Front of House manager) begroet die Queen Mother. Hy ken haar persoonlik en hy het 'n groot aandeel dat ons hierdie kontrak gekry het!

Die meisie met die wit rok is haar enigste kleinkind en sal dan seker eendag die Queen mother of Swaziland wees!?

Die Queen Mother kom die hotel binne en is oppad na Presidentiele Suite...