The king wielded great influence among millions of Zulus through his largely ceremonial and spiritual role despite having no official power in modern South Africa.
During a decades-long reign, he revived festivals celebrating virgin women, was blamed for fuelling deadly xenophobic violence, slammed gays as "rotten" and enjoyed a lavish and hedonistic lifestyle in a country where millions live in poverty.
"It is with the utmost grief that I inform the nation of the passing of His Majesty King Goodwill Zwelithini... King of the Zulu nation," the palace said a statement signed by Mangosuthu Buthelezi, a powerful veteran politician who is also a Zulu prince.
The king was admitted to the hospital last month for diabetes.
"Tragically, while still in the hospital, His Majesty's health took a turn for the worse and he subsequently passed away in the early hours of this morning," the statement said.
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