Sovereign: Siaosi Taufa'ahau Manumataongo Tuku'aho Tupou V (George Tupou V) King of Tonga (Nuku'alofa, Tonga, May 4th, 1948).
Son of King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV (1918-2006) and Queen Halaevalu Mata'aho 'Ahome'e (1926).
Succeeds his father King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV (1918-September 10th, 2006).
Coronation: Centenary Church, Nuku'alofa, Tonga, August 1st, 2008.
Motto: Ko e 'Otua mo Tonga ko hoku tofi'a (God and Tonga are my Inheritance).
Religion: Wesleyan Methodist.
Unmarried: However he has an illegitimate daughter 'Ilima Lei Fifita Tohi (1974). She married at December 2nd, 1997, Tulutulumafua 'i Olotele Kalaniuvalu, with whom she has three children. She has no succession rights.
Crown Prince: 'Aho'eitu 'Unuaki-'o-Tonga Tuku'aho (Tupouto'a Lavaka) (Nuku'alofa, Tonga, 12 juli 1959).
Son of King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV (1918-2006) and Queen Halaevalu Mata'aho 'Ahome'e (1926).
Married: (1982): Princess Heuifanga Nanasipau'u Tuku'aho (1954).
Children:
Titles:
The King of Tonga is styled His Majesty. The heir apparent is crown prince and styled His Royal Highness. The other sons and grandsons are Prince and styled His Royal Highness. The daughters and granddaughters of the sovereign in male line are Princess and styled Her Royal Highness. Sons and grandsons are usually granted traditional noble titles when they reach majority.
Succession:
Tonga is a constitutional monarchy. The king is succeeded by the eldest male child and his heirs. If there are no heirs from the eldest male child, the second male child and his heirs will succeed, until the male line has ended. In case there is no male child, the eldest female child and her heirs will succeed, and if she doesn't have heirs, the second female child and her heirs will succeed, until the female line is ended. If there are no lawful descendants by marriage (born in wedlock) of David Uga (son of King Siaosi Taufa'ahau Tupou I) left to succeed the throne, the throne will go to William Tungi and his lawful heirs. In case there is no lawful heir anymore, the king will appoint an heir, with consent of the House of Nobles. He has to be publicly declared heir during the king's life. If that hasn't happened, the Prime Minister shall convoke the nobles of the Legislative Assembly, and the House of Nobles has to choose by ballot one of the chiefs whom they wish to succeed as king. He and his heirs will then form a new dynasty. If the king dies before his heir has reached the age of eighteen, a Prince Regent will be appointed by ballot by the Legislative Assembly.
The heir apparent to the throne can not marry without the consent of the king. Without consent the marriage is not to be considered legal, and are no longer heirs to the throne. This also applies to any other member of the family who is likely to succeed the throne, and was born in lawful marriage, but no more than twenty times removed from the king. Someone who has been found guilty of a felony or who is insane or imbecile is not to succeed the throne of Tonga.
Postal address:
Royal Palace
Nuku'alofa
Tonga
History:
The Kingdom of Tonga is situated in the south Pacific Ocean and exists of an archipelago of 171 islands. There are only people living at 48 of these islands. They stretch over a distance of about 800 kilometres. King was united into a kingdom by Taufa'ahau in 1845. He was baptised as King George. In 1875 Tonga became a constitutional monarchy. Tonga was a British protectorate between 1900 and 1970, but never gave up its monarchial government. They are since part of the Commonwealth. On 29 July 2008 it was announced that King George Tupou V would relinguish many of his powers. This move will end a near-absolute monarchy. The statement said that the King, who sees himself as "an architect of change", "is voluntarily surrendering his powers to meet the democratic aspirations of many of his people. His majesty wishes to ensure that the monarchy is fully prepared for elections in 2010 under a revised voting system granting the majority voice in parliament to the people."
The Kings of Tonga