The royal couple who died in a road accident in California on July 6 will be buried on July 21 at Lapaha on top of an ancient tomb, called Langi Na Moala, according to a spokesperson in the Prime Minister's office today.

The king's brother the former Fatafehi Tu'ipelehake was the last of the Tu'ipelehake to be buried at Mala'e Kula.

The Langi Na Moala, is a small stone langi, adjacent to the larger ancient terraced tomb called Langi Paepae o Tele'a. The langi at Lapaha were built for the Tu'i Tonga, the first dynasty of ancient kings.

None of the ancient Langi have ever been opened because they are regarded as taboo, but the spokesperson in the Prime Minister's Office said that in modern times on the few occasions when people were buried at one of the langi, it was not necessary to open the royal tomb, but to just bury them on top, as was the case of the late Hon. Kalanivalu Fotofili, the noble of Lapaha who was buried on top of the Paepae o Tele'a in recent times.

Meanwhile, a family member has told relatives that a decision made by the Royal Family to no longer inter the Tu'ipelehake at the royal tombs was discussed with Prince Tu'ipelehake and Princess Kaimana before they left for the USA on their fateful trip.