August Annotations

Tonga In The News

The island nation of Tonga mourned with their royal family when the two most popular members were killed recently.

Prince Tuipelehake, 56, and his wife, Princess Kaimana, 46, died on a California freeway when a teenager allegedly hit their sports utility vehicle as she tried to overtake them. Reports said that the teen was drag-racing her car at speeds of 100+ mph. The incident occurred on July 5th.

The prince was the nephew of the 88-year-old King Taufaiahau Tupou IV and was known as the leading reformist in the royal family. He and his wife had been on a visit to discuss political reform with California’s Tongan community. Ironically, it was to gather support to call on the King to step down from his absolute rule and allow the people of Tonga to vote on their government.

The monarchy has recently allowed gradual reforms by appointing some people’s representatives to the cabinet for the first time and this year replaced the king’s youngest son as prime minister with democrat Feleti Sevele.

Where is Tonga? What is their place in the monarchies of the world?

If you study monarchies, especially the British Royal Family, you will most likely come across the history and personality of Tonga. The 170-island archipelago is located halfway between Australia and Tahiti, and just north of New Zealand. Tonga was part of the British Western Pacific Territories under a colonial High Commissioner. It was united into a Polynesian kingdom in 1845 by the warrior Kanokupolu, who was baptised with the name George (Siaosi) in honor of George III of England.

In 1875 he declared Tonga a constitutional monarchy and took the name George Tupou I. He styled his monarchy after the British, abolished serfdom everywhere in Tonga and opened the first parliament. Even though his nation was under colonial forces, it never lost indigenous governance, a fact that makes Tonga unique within the Pacific islands.

The Coronation

Queen Salote Tupou III put Tonga on the map when she attended Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1953.

Though it had been raining in London, Salote insisted that the top of her carriage remain down. It was a mark of respect on her part towards the new Queen Elizabeth. The British people thought very highly of her because of that gesture.

After the coronation, Queen Elizabeth resumed her trip to the South Pacific with her husband Prince Philip, visiting Queen Salote in Tonga. They attended a traditional banquet given by Salote in honor of her British counterpart.

Queen Salote had a few honors under her belt by the time of the coronation. She was appointed a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 1932 by George V, then advanced to Dame Grand Cross (GBE) in 1945 by George VI. In 1953, she was appointed a Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO) by Queen Elizabeth II.

Salote was a well-known writer and author of countless Tongan songs and love poems. She served the Chairman of the Tonga Traditions Committee 1954-1965, patronised the Tonga Red Cross Society, and was the first Dame Grand Cross to be appointed to the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (GCMG) in January 1965. She died in December 1965 at Aotea Hospital, Auckland, after a long illness.

A King in Controversy

Taufa’ahau Tupou IV, son of Queen Salote and her consort husband Prince Tungi, has been the King of Tonga since the death of his mother in 1965. Baptised as Siaosi Taufa’ahau Tupoulahi, he was soon better known by the traditional title reserved for crown princes: Tupouto’a.

He was a religious preacher in his youth, and studied law in Australia. Today, he remains a lay preacher of the Free Wesleyan Church.

The king holds great political power and influence in Tonga. However, his involvement in an investment scandal has led to calls for greater democratisation. This is what the king’s nephew, Prince Tu’i Pelehake, was striving for when his life was tragically cut short.

Like Britain, Norway, and many other countries who have a monarchy, the feeling is that older people support the monarchy while younger Tongans believe it is time for a change.

A 2006 constitutional commission is currently studying proposals to update the constitution.

Written by: Mandy
© 2006 MandysRoyalty.org

Thank you to:

Wikipedia; Aloha Hawaii; Webshots