Photos by Pesi Fonua, Mary Lyn Fonua, Linny Folau and Peter Poulsen.

HM King George Tupou V, the reformer, continued to inspire changes even in death. In the procedures of his funeral ceremony, there were some clear departures from the norm.

One visible change was that Lauaki, the head of the Ha'a Tufunga was not standing on top of the Royal Catafalque with his staff, accompanying King George Tupou V on his last journey on earth from the Palace to Mala'e Kula (as Lauaki did with Tupou IV).

During the Christian funeral service there appeared to be a freer movement by the Royal Chaplain Rev. Dr 'Ahio, on top of the Royal Tombs, a territory that is normally restricted only for the Nima Tapus, whose rituals connect to a pre-Christian era.

The last, and most obvious change in the funeral procedure was when the new King Tupou VI decided to leave the funeral following the church service, but before the actual burial had taken place.

With the King and the Queen on their way out, it opened up the doors for dignitaries, and members of the public to leave Mala'e Kula. Meanwhile, on the western side of Mala'e Kula, the Queen Mother Halaevalu Mata'aho, members of the Royal Family and others remained to witness the completion of the burial ceremony, the closure of the tomb, its burial with sand, and decoration with wreaths, before they went home.