Why was Basutoland renamed the Kingdom of Lesotho in 1966?

Basutoland was renamed the Kingdom of Lesotho on October 4, 1966, to mark the territory's formal independence from Britain.1

The name change reflected the nation's transition to a sovereign state headed by Moshoeshoe II, who served as the country's first king. Moshoeshoe II was the descendant and namesake of Moshoeshoe, the 19th-century leader who founded the Sotho nation. By adopting the name Lesotho, the newly independent nation honored its historical roots and the legacy of its founder while establishing its identity as a constitutional monarchy.1234