HRH Princess Mele Siu‘ilikutapu Kalaniuvalu Fotofili, a cousin of King Tupou VI, has passed away at the age of 75 years. Born in 1948, the Princess was the second of ten grandchildren of the late Queen Salote Tupou III.

She was the first woman to be elected to the Legislative Assembly in Tonga and was a People's Representative from 1975 until 1978.

Princess Siu'ilikutapu was the eldest daughter of Prince Fatafehi Tu’ipelehake and his wife Melenaite Tupoumoheofo Veikune. Her father was a brother of the late Taufa'ahau Tupou IV.

As a cousin of King Tupou VI, Siu‘ilikutapu was a highly ranked woman in Tongan society.

The Palace Office said in a statement, the Princess died in hospital in Auckland at 7:15am on 28 May.

“Kuo pekia ‘a e Ta’ahine Pilinisesi Mele Siu’ilikutapu, ko e ‘alo lahi taha ‘o Pilinisi Fatafehi Tu’ipelehake mo Pilinisesi Melenaite, ‘i he Falemahaki Auckland ‘i he taimi 7.15 pongipongi Sapate, ‘aho 28 ‘o Me 2023.”

They stated that Princess Siu'ilikutapu will be returned to Tonga for burial at the Royal Tombs of Mala'ekula. 

No further details have been released about the passing of the Princess Siu'ilikutapu, who had lived in Auckland in recent years.