Published on Matangi Tonga (https://matangitonga.to)

Home > Princess Mele Siu'ilikutapu lies at Royal Palace

Princess Mele Siu'ilikutapu lies at Royal Palace [1]

Nuku'alofa, Tonga

Friday, June 2, 2023 - 20:13.  Updated on Saturday, June 3, 2023 - 03:52.

Bearers transfer the casket of Princess Mele Siu'ilikutapu to the Royal Palace for her vigil. 12 June 2023. Photo: Matangi Tonga / Linny Folau.

A vigil is being held for HRH Princess Mele Siu'ilikutapu Kalaniuvalu Fotofili, lying at the Royal Palace in Nuku'alofa, after the funeral cortège arrived this afternoon from Auckland, New Zealand.

HM King Tupou VI and other members of the Royal Family were present to receive the royal funeral cortège, that arrived on an Air New Zealand flight at Fua'amotu International Airport. 

School students and mourners paid their respect by sitting with heads bowed on the side of the roads, as the royal funeral procession made its way from the airport to the Royal Palace. 

A vigil is being held tonight with various prayer services up until midnight. 

The President of the Free Wesleyan Church, Rt. Hon. Rev. Dr Tevita Koloa'ia Havea and the Sia'atoutai Theological College carried out the first prayer service, after the royal funeral cortège arrived at the Royal Palace. 

Princess Mele Siu'ilikutapu will be laid to rest at the Royal Tombs, Mala'ekula tomorrow, Saturday, 3 June. She passed away at the age of 75-years on 28 May.

The Ha'a Tufunga (hereditary royal funeral attendants) led by Takapu (right) arrive for the overnight vigil for Princess Mele Siu'ilikutapu. Royal Palace, Nuku'alofa. 2 June 2023. Photo: Matangi Tonga / Linny Folau.

Leaders of the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga, led by Rev. Dr Tevita Koloa'ia Havea, arrive for the overnight vigil for Princess Mele Siu'ilikutapu. Royal Palace, Nuku'alofa. 2 June 2023. Photo: Matangi Tonga / Linny Folau.

Bearers transfer the casket of Princess Mele Siu'ilikutapu to the Royal Palace for her vigil. 2 June 2023. Photo: Matangi Tonga / Linny Folau.
Royal Palace, Nuku'alofa. 2 June 2023. Photo: Matangi Tonga / Linny Folau.
Tonga [2]
Princess Mele Siu‘ilikutapu Kalaniuvalu Fotofili [3]
royal funeral [4]
royal funeral cortege [5]
Royal Palace [6]
Ha'a Tufunga [7]
Royalty & Nobility [8]

This content contains images that have not been displayed in print view.

Source URL:https://matangitonga.to/2023/06/02/princess-mele-siuilikutapu-lies-royal-palace

Links
[1] https://matangitonga.to/2023/06/02/princess-mele-siuilikutapu-lies-royal-palace [2] https://matangitonga.to/tag/tonga?page=1 [3] https://matangitonga.to/tag/princess-mele-siu-ilikutapu-kalaniuvalu-fotofili?page=1 [4] https://matangitonga.to/tag/royal-funeral?page=1 [5] https://matangitonga.to/tag/royal-funeral-cortege?page=1 [6] https://matangitonga.to/tag/royal-palace?page=1 [7] https://matangitonga.to/tag/haa-tufunga?page=1 [8] https://matangitonga.to/topic/royalty-nobility-0?page=1