Photo:  Office of Lord Chamberlain

Tonga's King and Queen attended the graduation of the Crown Prince Tupouto'a-'Ulukalala at the Australian Command and Staff College, Canberra, on Friday.

HM King Tupou VI and HM Queen Nanasipau'u, were invited by the Commander of the Australian Defence College Major General Mick Ryan, to attend the 2018 Australian Command and Staff Course (Joint) Graduation Ceremony on 7 December.  The Crown Prince and 172 students from 24 countries graduated with the Staff College (Joint) psc(j) military qualification, along with a postgraduate qualification in Military and Defence Studies accredited from the Australian National University.

Crown Prince Tupouto'a-'Ulukalala was also awarded the postgraduate qualification of Master of Military and Defence Studies (MMDS).  

Crown Princess Sinaitakala and their three children, Prince Taufa'ahau Manumataongo, Princess Halaevalu Mata'aho, and Princess Nanasipau'u Eliana also attended the graduation with Princess Angelika Latufuipeka, the Tonga High Commissioner to Australia.

The Lord Chamberlain reported that the Crown Prince and Crown Princess and their family will return to Nuku'alofa for the Christmas holidays before returning to Canberra in the New Year where the Crown Prince will pursue further studies at the two-year Master of Diplomacy course at the Coral Bell School of the Australian National University.