Queen Mother’s funeral cortege to travel on RNAF Hercules [1]
Thursday, February 23, 2017 - 21:08. Updated on Thursday, February 23, 2017 - 21:10.
A Royal New Zealand Air Force C-130 Hercules will bring the funeral cortege for Tonga's Queen Mother Halaevalu Mata'aho back to Tonga, arriving at Fua’amotu International Airport on Tuesday, February 28.
Around 20 mourners, including several members of the Tongan Royal family are expected to accompany the casket on the Hercules from Whenuapai airfield, confirmed the RNAF Base Auckland.
It is expected that Hercules will leave in the morning and arrive in Tonga in the early afternoon.
The Queen Mother will be taken to the Royal Palace in Nuku'alofa and during this time of Takipo, people will pay their respects.
The Queen Mother will be laid to rest at the Royal Tombs, Mala'ekula on Wednesday, 1 March.
HRH Princess Salote Mafile'o Pilolevu Tuita, the Queen Mother's only daugher is among the royal party that will accompany her back home.
The Queen Mother (90) died in Auckland at 10:15 pm on Sunday, 19 February.