The Zulu Queen, Mantfombi Dlamini Zulu, is due to be laid to rest in a private ceremony in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province.

She died unexpectedly in Johannesburg last week, a little over a month after the death of her husband, King Goodwill Zwelithini.

Her family has not yet made public the cause of her death.

Amid great ceremony, Zulu maidens accompanied Queen Mantfombi’s body back to her palace late on Wednesday.

A decision on who will now lead the Zulu kingdom is expected after the funeral.