Photos by Linny Folau.

Tupou High School Students ready and waiting in front of Pangai Lahi, at 11:00am

It is a sombre and quiet day in Nuku'alofa this afternoon, as the capital awaits the arrival of the Royal Cortege of the late king, HM George Tupou V, now expected to arrive at 1:25pm, at Fua'amotu International Airport.

Paula Ma'u, the Secretary for Information and Communication said this morning that the arrival time of the Chinese commercial flight carrying the Royal Cortege from Hong Kong was delayed an hour from 12:30pm, the time they initially announced last week.

He said that upon arrival at the airport the Royal Cortege will proceed from the airport to the Royal Palace, where the body of the late king would Lie in State on a night of vigil.

Students

Meanwhile, since 11:00am this morning hundreds of school children have been lining the main Taufa'ahau Road sitting cross-legged while waiting for the funeral procession, 

Despite the brilliant sunshine it is a sombre and quite day in the Nuku'alofa Central Business District. Shops and offices are closed, for a two day public holiday declared for the State Funeral. The capital has come to a standstill in complete silence as people dressed in black funeral dress, and students in uniform, continue to fill the sides of the main road, Hala Taufa'ahau, waiting to pay their respects to the late king, regardless of the hot sun.

Tupou High School Students ready and waiting in front of Pangai Lahi.

Tupou High School students have taken position in front of Pangai Lahi, while Tonga High School students are lined in front of the Royal Tombs, Mala'e Kula.

Young students from the Ocean of Light school have lined the road in front of the Tonga Post office and Government primary schools have taken position at Fanga and Havelu.

Ocean of Light students wait near to the Royal Palace

'Emeli Pouvalu, the Director for the Ministry of Education had announced last week that over 90 schools, secondary schools and tertiary institutions would line the route from the airport to Royal Palace. More than 25,000 students and over 1,000 teachers will take position  on the main road, she said.

It is understood that the combined brass bands of all Secondary Schools in Tongatapu would lead the Royal Cortege starting from Queen Salote Memorial Hall in Nuku'alofa, to the Royal Palace on the seafront.