Photos from Mala'ekula [1]
Wednesday, March 1, 2017 - 20:10. Updated on Thursday, March 2, 2017 - 12:46.
Photos by Pesi Fonua, Linny Folau and Peter Poulsen
Tonga's Queen Mother, the late Queen Halaevalu Mata’aho, consort of Tupou IV, was laid to rest at the Royal Tombs, Mala'ekula in Nuku'alofa today. Thousands of students and mourners lined both sides of Hala Tu'i.
The Royal Catafalque was carried by bearers rotated from about 1000 men- the 'Kau Fata', drawn from the Free Wesleyan Church and relatives of the Queen Mother, under the charge of the traditional Royal Undertakers - the Nima Tapu.
Foreign dignitaries attending the Royal Funeral included Samoa's Head of State, Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi and Masiofo Filifilia,the Maori King Tuheitia and Makau Ariki Atawhai, HE Ratu Epeli Nailatikau and Adi Koila, and Samoa's Deputy Prime Minister Hon Fiame Naomi Mataafa.
Related article with more photos:
http://matangitonga.to/2017/03/01/tongas-beloved-queen-mother-laid-rest [2]