Kalafi Moala
Flags were flown at half-mast as Tonga joins the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth of Nations, and the rest of the world in mourning the passing of Queen Elizabeth II on September 8, at age 96. She had had been on the throne of the United Kingdom for 70 years.
At 26, in 1952 she became Queen at the death of her father King George VI.
It was at her coronation in 1952 that Tonga’s Queen Salote III visited Great Britain, and left an indelible memory in the minds of many people. Queen Salote ordered that the chariot she was riding to be kept open without cover, exposing her to the rain.
It was her Tongan sign of humility and high respect to Queen Elizabeth. Over the years media and people talked about it, remembering Queen Salote from the South Pacific, and referring to Tonga as Queen Salote’s island kingdom.
There has been a close relationship between the royal family of the United Kingdom and the royal family of Tonga. Even back in 1831 on August 7th, when the founder of modern Tonga, Taufa’ahau was baptized when he converted to Christianity, he chose the name “George” or in Tongan “Siaosi”, as his baptism name.
When he became the Tu’i Kanokupolu in 1845, he was crowned by the name King George Tupou I.
A year after her coronation, Queen Elizabeth II visited Tonga in 1953, with her husband Philip Duke of Edinborough. Queen Salote and her Crown Prince Tungi (later King Taufa’ahau Tupou IV) hosted the royal visit in Tongatapu.
People from all over Tonga came to Nuku’alofa to watch the parades honoring the British Queen. There was no TV or Radio then, so people came to town to have a glimpse of her.
Over the years there have been frequent royal visits between Great Britain’s royal family and the Tongan royal family.
In the meantime, since her death, the Prince of Wales, Charles, has become King Charles III; and his wife Camilla has become Queen Consort.
The state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II will be held on Monday 19th September at Westminster Abby.
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