The future of the Tongan crown

The Tongan Royal Family is the epi-centre of Tongan politics, a traditional role that was later formalised by the 1875 Tongan Constitution, which spelled out the power of the King and the law of succession to the throne. While in most western countries one could follow political trends by studying the manifestos and the working agenda of political parties, in Tonga one has to understand the political thoughts of the King and the members of the Royal Family. This is no easy task, because of the exclusiveness that surrounds the Royal Family in their daily lives. By Pesi Fonua. From Matangi Tonga Magazine, Vol. 16, no. 3, December 2001. FROM OUR ARCHIVES.