King George Tupou V State Funeral, Tuesday March 27 [1]
Thursday, March 22, 2012 - 15:01. Updated on Monday, September 9, 2013 - 18:40.
The state funeral and burial of the late king, HM George Tupou V, has been moved to Tuesday, March 27.
Lord Vaea, the chairman of a Cabinet Committee set up to organise the state funeral, said this morning that HM King Tupou VI had confirmed late yesterday evening for the state funeral to be held on Tuesday, a day earlier than what they had initially announced for Wednesday, March 28.
He said the late king's body is expected to arrive at Fua'amotu International Airport at 12:30pm on Monday, March 26 on a commercial flight from Hong Kong, chartered by the Chinese Government. The funeral procession would proceed to the Royal Palace in Nuku'alofa, where the late king's body will lie in state for one night of vigil.
Lord Vaea said the state funeral ceremony would begin at noon on Tuesday, March 27. A traditional royal catafalque is to be carried from the Royal Palace to the Royal Tombs by over 100 men from Tupou College, for the burial ceremony.
The Cabinet Committee has confirmed most of the funeral arrangements, which will be announced in detail later in the week.
King George Tupou V died on March 18 in Hong Kong, during a transit stop on his way back to Tonga, after being abroad since November last year.
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