Photos by Pesi Fonua

Arrival home, the casket of HM King George Tupou V is carried by the Tonga Defence Services Bearer Party, and attended by nobles at Fua'amotu Airport this afternoon, 26 March 2012.

A surreal atmosphere of quietness descended upon the Fua'amotu International Airport this afternoon, after the China Southern Airlines Airbus touched down at about 1.40 pm carrying the body of the late king, HM King George Tupou V.

Soldiers of the Tonga Defence Services Bearer Party slowly marched toward the aircraft; with members of the Royal Family, and the nobles, led by the Prime Minister, Lord Tu'ivakano wearing their traditional ta'oala (funeral mats) making their way to meet the new King Tupou VI, who brought the body of his brother home from Hong Kong.

Queen Salote College students sat on the edges of tapa cloth that was laid on the tarmac for the Royal Cortege.

At Fua'amotu Airport members of Tonga's Royal Family, accompanied by royal undertakers the Nima Tapu.

Tonga's new king HM Tupou VI steps into his kingdom, at Fua'amotu Airport this afternoon, 26 March 2012.