Royal Tonga

[?]E Pacific's Only

[?]Ngdom

IHE islands of Tonga constitute the Pacific’s only remaining Kingdom. The Queen, Salote ipou, has the style internationally cognised, of Majesty, rhe Kingdom of Tonga was ited by Queen Salote’s great sat-grandfather who, when he re mnised his country after Britain s nstitutional monarchy in 1845, 5k the title King George I. He is born in 1797 and died in 1893 d thereupon was succeeded by his and-son, George Tupou 11, the ther of the present Queen.

Although Tonga is patterned ter the monarchy of Great itain the Kingdom is per ps the least influenced by Euro an ways. The Tongans have .opted those things from the estern world that they required, d for the rest carry on in their tl fashion. Under a treaty signed 1900, Britain undertook to pro :t the Kingdom. 3ueen Salote was educated in ickland—where she still spends rt of every year; and her sons re educated at Methodist schools d Universities in Australia. [n 1953, Queen Salote was a guest the Coronation of Queen Eliza th II and the warm reception corded her by Britishers has now come a part of history. [n 1947, Queen Salote’s two sons, ince Tugi and Prince Tuipelehake, a double wedding ceremony arri e d, respectively, Halaevalu ataaho and Melenaite Tupou- Dheofo. Both couples now have ildren to carry on the Royal line, [n December, 1953, Queen Eliza th of England and hen consort e Duke of Edinburgh, visited mga in the course of a world ir. Queen Salote personally spent my months preparing for her >yal visitors and this section of e Royal tour was judged one of e most pleasant.

Above: The incident that endeared Queen Salote to London crowds —riding in the rain in an open carriage during the Coronation proces sion of Queen Elizabeth II. Right; Queen Salote's own Coronation, on October 11, 1918.

The Queen was then 18.

Behind her stands her consort. Prince Tugi whom she had married in 1917. Below: The occasion of the double wedding of her sons, Prince Tugi and Prince Tuipelehake, at Nuku alofa, on June 10, 1947.