A Family

Queen Was A Family Woman

'J'HIS is one of the last family group pictures with Queen Salote, who was a warm family woman as well as a regal and beloved monarch. It shows the key figures in current events.

With the Queen, from left, is her elder son, Tungi, Tungi's eldest son, Prince Taufa'ahau, Salote’s younger son, Prince Tu’ipelehake, and Prince Aho’eitu, another of Tungi’s sons.

Tungi is now king, Prince Taufa’ahau becomes heir to the throne (and will probably take his father’s old title of Tungi) and Tu’ipelehake is Acting Premier, and will undoubtedly be con firmed in the post. There are other grandchildren not in the picture.

Salote had three sons, but the second eldest, Prince Uiliami Tuku’aho died from a heart ail ment in 1936, aged 16.

Salote was born Princess Salote Mafile’o Pilotevu, at the palace on March 13, 1900, the child of Queen Lavinia Veiongo and King George 11. She was educated in New Zealand, married Tungi (Uiliami Tupoulahi) in 1917 and ascended the throne on April 5, 1918, as Queen Salote Tupou 111, upon the death of her father. She was then 18. The coronation was in September, 1918.

Her husband was Prince Regent and later also Premier until his death in 1941, and their elder son later took the title of Tungi.

Queen Salote was given a number of high British honours during her long reign. In 1932 she was made a Dame Com mander of the Order of the British Empire. She received the GBE (Dame Grand Cross of the British Empire) in 1945 and was decorated Dame Grand Cross of the Victorian Order in 1953.

Last November, fust before she flew to New Zealand, the Queen was created Dame Grand Cross of the Order of St. Michael and St. George—the first woman to receive the distinction.