The Royal Palace, home of the Tongan royal family for over 100 years is undergoing a $12 million renovation and extension that is expected to be completed by November.

David Dunkley, the king's Private Secretary said on Wednesday, July 7 that the extension would add on two new wings , one on the eastern and the other on the western side of the central building structure. The new wings will have a ground and a top floor covering a total floor area of 750 square meters and it would accommodate an office for the king.

David said that the western wing would house meeting rooms for the Privy Council sub committees, offices for the Lord Chamberlain and Lord Privy Seal.

The eastern wing would house a National Archive Office, an office for the Tonga Traditional Committee, and the Palace office.

David said that the extension of the palace has been scheduled to be completed before the November election which will usher in a new government. The meeting of the Privy Council will then be held at the palace and not at the Prime Minister office's compound as it is at the moment.

The extension to the palace is carried out by the Ca'Bella Pacific Construction, and according to David the construction materials used are just regular timbers, corrugated irons and concrete.