Results for Royalty & Nobility

Tonga's King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV is gravely ill in Auckland this evening, the Prime Minister Hon. Dr Feleti Sevele has announced in a special broadcast that interrupted regular programming on Radio Tonga and Television Tonga shortly before 11pm on Tuesday, August 15.

Hon. Viliami Tupoulahi Mailefihi Tuku‘’aho (49) was bestowed with the hereditary title Tu‘ipelehake at the Royal Palace, Nuku‘alofa, this afternoon. Photos by Linny Folau

The funeral service for Prince Tu'ipelehake and Princess Kaimana was held at the Free Wesleyan Centenary Church at 12.30 today. Photos by Pesi Fonua and Linny Folau

Ten days of mourning began in Tonga this morning with the arrival from the USA of the caskets of Prince Tu‘ipelehake and Princess Kaimana.

The official program for the funeral of the late Prince Tu‘ipelehake and the late Princess Kaimana on July 20-21 will be released on Wednesday, Paula Ma'u, the Deputy Secretary to Cabinet said today.

THE late Prince Tu'ipelehake and the late Princess Kaimana will not be buried at the Mala'e Kula Royal Tombs, the burial place of the Tu'i Kanokupolu dynasty.

A memorial service was held in East Palo Alto, California, late on Friday July 7 for the Tongan royal family members, Prince Tu‘ipelehake, 56, Princess Kaimana, 46, and their driver, Vinisia Hefa, 36, who were killed in a vehicle accident in nearby Menlo Park, on Wednesday, July 5. Princess Mele Siu‘ilikutapu, sister of Prince Tu‘ipelehake attended the service.

Two members of Tonga's Royal family, HRH Prince Tu'ipelehake and Princess Kaimana, died in a car accident in San Francisco last night according to Tongans living in the area, but this has yet to be officially confirmed by the Palace Office in Tonga.

Looking frail and in his wheelchair, King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV returned home to Tonga on Saturday July 1, in time for the celebration of his 88th birthday on July 4.