We waved our Union Jacks like windmills and were proud when an elegant carriage stopped briefly near where we were standing. Inside was a queen — not the Queen — but a head of state nevertheless.

The occupants were Queen Salote of Tonga, a lady of compassion and matching girth, and a slightly built, tail coated man, whom the BBC commentator, unable to identify, described as 'Queen Salote's breakfast'. There was a shower of rain. The diminutive man (subsequently revealed as the Portugese Ambassador) wanted the roof closed; Queen Salote wanted it open. She won. I decided then and there that I would like to visit Tonga.

Salote's grandson, the King of Tonga, Taupa'ahau Tupou V, died on 18 March, during a visit to Hong Kong. It is expected that his brother, Tououto'a Lavaka, will succeed him.

Obituaries have depicted the deceased as an eccentric though likeable person, more interested in discussing 17th century European wars than the political and economic needs of his people.

True to my childhood wish I've been twice to Tonga, for a full five days each time, during which I sipped morning tea with the King (actually two kings), met church leaders, exposed miles of good old-fashioned Kodachrome and did my best to learn as much as possible about the 'Friendly Isles'.

My first visit in the 1970s was in the reign of Salote's son, Taufa'ahau Tupou IV, whose links with Australia included having been educated at Newington College, Sydney, the Methodist alma mater, and Sydney University, where — he proudly pointed out — a song was composed about his being the first Tongan to gain a degree.

There are many interesting things about Tonga, not least of which is its status not just as a kingdom, with a lineage claimed to be older than that of Queen Elizabeth, but as a Methodist kingdom to boot. For some generations the Tongans have been a Christian people whose church-going habits are renowned. Read more

Sources

• Alan Gill in Eureka Street
• Image: Radical Royalist

On February 24 he had an audience with Pope Benedict in the Vatican and appeared healthy and ebullient.

Thew cabinet has established a committee to arrange the funeral and the kingdom's official mourning period.

The deceased Kings's body will be transported from Hong Kong to Tonga on board a special commercial aircraft chartered by the Chinese Government and will arrive in Tonga next Monday, March 26th.

It was first announced that the state funeral King George Tupou V would take place Wednesday, March 28, after two days lying in state but it has been moved forward a day to Tuesday, March 27, at the request of his successor King Tupou VI. A government spokesman did not specify why the date had been changed, other than to say arrangements had been made by the new King.

When the cabinet discussed arrangements for the funeral it said it will have to take into account the cost of a funeral and the coronation of his brother and successor because the country is so cash strapped.

The Free Wesleyan Church in Tonga is preparing for the funeral.

On Monday the church's general secretary, Tevita Havea, said the congregation was still trying to come to terms with the death.

"As far as preparation is concerned, the president of the church is responsible for drafting the whole religious programme. I was given the task of assigning local congregations to visit one of the royal residences. We will do the same tomorrow and the following days."

The chair of the Auckland-based Tongan Advisory Council says Tongans in New Zealand would have liked to have paid their respects and expressed their disappointment that the body of King George will be flown directly to Tonga without a stop in Auckland. However The Methodist and Catholic communities in Auckland have been reported to be arranging special services on Sunday to mark the King's death.

The New Zealand Christian Network and the South Pacific Evangelical Alliance have expressed their deepest sympathies to the people of Tonga ."We honour the King's contribution, especially to advancing the cause of democracy in Tonga, and know he will be missed with great sadness by people around the Pacific as well as in the islands of Tonga."

His reign was a short one, just 3 years, unlike that of his father, King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV, who was on the throne for 41 years, and his grandmother Queen Salote who ruled for 47 years.

He has been succeeded by his youngest brother, Tupouto'a Lavaka Ata.

Source

• www.michaelfield.org
• FijiVillage.com
• Radio New Zealand International
• Image: yahoonews.com