article_snippet.sent: According to South Africa Sunday Times, the monarch paid out more than £55,000 on catering, around £10,000 on a sound system and £15,000 on decorations and flowers.
article_snippet.sent: In total, the extravaganza, attended by 5,000 people, cost an estimated £250,000.
article_snippet.sent: Maintaining all six wives, the extravaganza, attended by 5,000 people children and grandchildren in separate palaces, with generous allowances, private school fees and a retinue of personal staff, requires substantial funding, according to reports.
article_snippet.sent: And he decided they all needed new, imported military regalia to wear to the opening of KwaZulu Natal's state legislature later this year - at the not insignificant price of £155,000, South Africa's Sunday Times claimed.
article_snippet.sent: But the King - pictured here right at the annual reed dance at eNyokeni Royal Palace last year - more often comes under fire for lavish spending on his six wives, 28 children and numerous grandchildren .
article_snippet.sent: Four years before, the royal family had come under fire for spending more than £16,000 on linen.
highlights_snippet.sent: Last year father-of-28 declared father-of-28 bankrupt having spent £250,000 on wedding .
  
highlights_snippet.sent: Yet just last month father-of-28 bought a Mercedes for each wife - plus a spare .