Tonga celebrated King Tupou VI's birthday and the 50^th Anniversary of the Tongan Navy with a Navy Fleet Review of visiting navy ships in Nuku'alofa on Thursday, 4 July 2024.

Multi-national brass bands marched with ships' companies through central Nuku'alofa and through the grounds of the Royal Palace.

HM King Tupou VI with his Colonel-in-Chief of HMAF, HRH Crown Prince Tupouto’a ‘Ulukalala made a Navy Fleet Review of six visiting navy ships and three patrol boats. Attending the review were high ranking navy officers from Australia, China, Japan, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and United States. From the region, Papua New Guinea, Cook Islands, Fiji, Samoa and Kiribati sent representatives. The visitors included, Commander Australian Fleet, Rear Admiral Christopher Smith (Royal Australian Navy); Commodore Andrew Brown (New Zealand Deputy Chief of Navy); Commander HORI Tetsunobe (Japan, JS Noshiro); Captain Charles Maynard (United Kingdom, HMS Tamar); Major General Andrea Perry (USCGC Harriet Lane) and others.

The celebrations on the Public Holiday included a Thanksgiving Service at the FWC Centenary Church, the Maritime fleet review, and navy parade in Nuku'alofa, followed by a Royal Luncheon at the Queen Salote Memorial Hall.

Photos by Petty Officer Chris Weissenborn NZDF