A ZULU queen and two zulu princes visited Powys in preparation for next year’s 140th anniversary of the Anglo-Zulu war.

Queen Mpumi, Prince Mbonisi and Prince Buza arrived in Brecon last Friday for a four-day visit which included a black-tie dinner and auction at Llangoed Hall.

The queen, who is one of King Zwethilini’s six wives, was also accompanied by the head of KwaZulu Culture Gugu Ngcobo.

The Zululand royals stayed at the Metropole Hotel in Llandrindod Wells during their visit.

The black tie dinner was also attended by the deputy South African high commissioner Golden Neswiswi and the brigadier general Ramambu.

Also in attendance was the Brecon and Radnorshire MP Chris Davies, Powys council chairman David Meredith, Brecon’s mayor Manny Trailor and deputy mayor Ann Mathias, Colonel Tim Van Rees and the chief executive of the Royal Welsh Agricultural Show Steve Hughson as well as almost 100 other members of the Powys community.

Queen Mpumi was greeted by members of re-enactment group The Diehard Company, dressed in UK military uniform from the Victorian era as seen in the film Zulu, who performed a royal salute.

The Friends of the Royal Welsh Regimental Museum in Brecon hosted the royal family who will be visiting again for the anniversary next year.

King Zwethilni, who is the current reigning king of the Zulu nation, will visit Wales in July to pay homage to the UK and Zulu soldiers who died in the 1879 war.

The event will include musical and theatrical performances in Cardiff Castle and Brecon Cathedral.

There will also be joint military events with the Royal Welsh Regiment and the Queen’s Dragoon Guards as part of a community engagement programme.

The king will also be visiting the Royal Welsh Show in its 100th year before tracing his great, great-grandfather King Cetshwayo’s steps in London.

Dorcas Cresswell, the coordinator of the Anglo-Zulu celebrations in Wales, said “We are delighted to welcome our friends from KwaZulu-Natal once again and are excited to progress plans for the 140-year celebration next year. 

“King Zwethilini has also invited us to South Africa as his guests in January and we are very much looking forward to that.”