King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipau'u will attend the annual Christmas service of the Free Wesleyan Church at the Centennial Church (Saione), tomorrow, December 25.

HM's Secretary Sione Fifita today confirmed that the King had returned from ‘Eua on Wednesday, December 22 as he was planning to attend the Deputy Prime Minister Lord Ma'afu's funeral service, on December 27.

However, the funeral was postponed, after the Air NZ flight carrying the funeral cortege was cancelled on December 21 due to the volcanic activity at Hunga Ha'apai.

There would be no public functions hosted at the Royal Palace during the holidays, due to COVID-19 restrictions, he said.

The King and Queen are in Tonga with their youngest son Prince Ata.