Tonga draped in black and purple [1]
Friday, February 24, 2017 - 20:48. Updated on Friday, February 24, 2017 - 20:51.
Photos by Linny Folau
Creative black and purple bunting tied in knots, bows, rosettes and crinkles, and wrapped on anything that can be wrapped, is emerging in Nuku'alofa and surrounding areas today as an expression of mourning for the late Queen Mother Halaevalu Mata'aho.
The Central Business District and main areas along Taufa’ahau road have been decked out in black and purple as Tongans prepare for the royal funeral on Wednesday, 1 March - including fences, offices, shop fronts, power poles, coconut trees,
The front entrances at the Queen Mother’s residence Tufumahina and the Royal Residence, The Villa, on Taufa'ahau Road have been decorated in creative draping.
Students from Queen Sālote College were today cleaning up areas inside and outside the Royal Tombs, Mala'ekula.
The Queen Mother died at the age of 90 in Auckland on Sunday, 19 February. The funeral cortege is expected to arrive at Fua’amotu International Airport on Tuesday afternoon, 28 February on a Royal New Zealand Air Force C-130 Hercules.
The Queen Mother will be taken to the Royal Palace for the Takipo.