No official reports of the dissolution of Tonga's Parliament had been issued by 5:00pm this afternoon, following hours of speculation that Tonga's King was dissolving the Parliament and would call a new election, a year ahead of schedule.

Rumours were flying today, but the key officials from the Palace Office and from Parliament were not available for comment.

The Lord Privy Seal and the Lord Chamberlain have not released any official statements, and were out of contact for the whole afternoon.

Meanwhile the Speaker of Tonga's Parliament Lord Tu'ivakano was in a meeting all afternoon at his Parliamentary Office. Security at Parliament House reported after 4:30pm that the Speaker had already left the compound. He has been out of contact since.

On Thursday, yesterday, Parliament ajourned at 4:00pm to resume their normal time at 10:00am on Monday. Parliament does not sit on Fridays because that is when Cabinet usually meets. The rumours of the King dissolving parliament were therefore unexpected.

The source of the rumour has not been identified but some Tongans are sharing the rumour as fact on social media.

The Government of Tonga has not issued any statements today regarding this rumour.