LESOTHO’S King Letsie III marries a commoner on Friday in a ceremony expected to draw fellow African royals, heads of state and tens of thousands of blanket-clad subjects from throughout his country. The 35-year-old king has said that Karabo Motsoeneng, 23, who has been living and studying in South Africa for several years, will be his one and only bride. “I’ve always believed that if I get married, the marriage will be strictly monogamous,” the softly-spoken king said in an interview this week. A devout Roman Catholic, he attends mass every Sunday and has asked Archbishop Bernard Mohlalisi to preside over the wedding, which will be held at the Setsoto Stadium in Maseru on Friday morning. The Lesotho government is splurging nine million rand on the celebrations, which will culminate on Sunday. Former president Nelson Mandela, Zanele Mbeki, the wife of President Thabi Mbeki, and Northern Province premier Ngoako Ramatlhodi are planning to be in Maseru for Friday’s celebrations.