Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Meet Britain’s newest royal
The king who lives on a housing estate near Manchester
LONDON: His “palace” is a small terrace house on an estate near Manchester, and to his neighbours the new king of Rwanda is simply a friendly family man.
It was announced on Thursday that security guard Emmanuel Bushayija will accede the post left vacant when his uncle, King Kigeli V, died in October.
However, the 56- year- old father of two is unlikely to be swopping work clothes for ceremonial robes and a crown any time soon, as the Rwandan monarchy has been exiled from the tiny East African country for nearly 60 years.
Bushayija is thought to be the first Briton to accede as a king since George VI inherited the throne following the abdication crisis in 1936.
But his title does not come with the wealth of a typical royal family, or even a set of crown jewels. Kigeli V, who ascended the throne in 1959, was ousted and sent into exile by an uprising two years later, and died in poverty in the US aged 80.
Bushayija or King Yuhi VI, as his supporters have proclaimed him, was keeping a low profile at his home in Sale in this week.
Blinds were closed and a woman who answered the cracked plastic door to brave the bitter Mancunian sleet said he would not be commenting about his surprise elevation.
Bushayija was exiled along with his family when Rwanda became a republic in 1961, and the young prince grew up in Uganda, where he worked as a salesman for Pepsi-Cola. He came to Britain in 2000 and gained citizenship, later setting up his security firm.
Neighbour Wendy Otoo, 50, said: “You wouldn’t have thought he was a king. He’s great with my grandchildren – he lets them all play in his garden. He’s a lovely man and he’s got a really nice family. I think it’s fantastic news.”
Dola Tope-Agboola, 43, said: “I can’t believe my neighbour is a king. It’s amazing. What’s he doing living on a council estate like this if he’s king of Rwanda? I’m very excited, it’s a great honour.”
The process by which Rwanda’s heirs are chosen is shrouded in secrecy.
While Britain’s are based on succession by the first-born child, Rwanda’s are chosen by the king from within their family.
The new monarch is revealed after his death. However, the selection of Bushayija has already proved controversial, with rival supporters reportedly dubbing him a “fake king”. – Daily Mail