 Following the death of King Mswati II in 1868, a period of regency followed with Queen Regent
Tsandzile Ndwandwe until 1875.The South African Republic in 1868 attempted to annex Swaziland by a proclamation.Mbandzeni, following the death of his half brother, the crown prince Ludvonga in 1872, was chosen by inkhosikati LaMgadlela Khumalo as her adopted son and hence a crown prince.