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

At the start of week-long Royal Wedding festivities in Tonga, Crown Prince Tupouto'a 'Ulukalala and Hon. Sinaitakala Tu'imatamoana 'i Fanakavakilangi Fakafanua held their Ma'utohi, a ceremony for the issue of their marriage licence, this morning at the Royal Palace in Nuku'alofa.

In the new wing of the Palace, the royal couple took their oaths and signed their marriage licence, before Tonga's Lord Chief Justice  Michael Dishington Scott, assisted by the Registrar Feleti Tuita. 

The Royal Chaplain Rev Dr 'Ahio, led the ceremony with prayers while outside in the Palace grounds the Maopa choir sang hymns.

HM King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipau'u, with the bride's mother Princess 'Ofeina, family members and friends attended as the couple signed the civil document, before the formal wedding ceremony to be held at the Centennial Church, Saione on Thursday, July 12.

The ceremony, this morning was an intimate affair for the royal family, who posed for pictures with the royal couple in front of the Royal Palace before hosting a luncheon in a garden marquee.

The celebration continues this afternoon, with a Fakalelea or the celebration of the marriage by the families, at the bride's home at Siumafua'uta residence in Ma'ufanga, where the Crown Prince's family will go to the bride's home, and celebrate with traditional performances of Tonga's Lakalaka masterpiece and other dances.

Crown Prince Tupouto'a 'Ulukalala is first in line to the Tongan throne.