IS THIS PICTURE OF SWAZI KING A FAKE?

Is this photograph of Swaziland’s King Mswati III with Inkhosikati LaMahlangu a fake?

I ask because I can’t imagine that the Swazi King would be so stupid to allow himself to be photographed in such an undignified pose – with a cheap plastic hat sold to tourists on the streets of London. And his wife has an equally tatty plastic Union Jack flag.

The picture appears today (5 May 2011) on the Swazi Observer website.

The newspaper describes it as a ‘courtesy’ picture – that is one that was given to it free of charge, but does not give the source.

This is the caption the newspaper gave the photograph, ‘MBUBE: His Majesty King Mswati III and Inkhosikati LaMahlangu pose before attending one of Prince William’s wedding functions.’