Commonwealth Secretary-General expresses condolences on death of King of Tonga

Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon today expressed his deepest condolences to His Majesty King George Tupou V, Her Majesty Queen Halaevalu Mata'aho, members of the Royal Family, and the Government and people of Tonga on the death of the late King of Tonga, His Majesty Taufa'ahau Tupou IV.

Mr McKinnon said King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV will be remembered for his strong desire to promote stability and economic prosperity for his Tongan people.

"King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV was greatly revered by his people, and was the second longest serving monarch in the Kingdom of Tonga, after his beloved mother Queen Salote. He will be sadly missed as one of the senior monarchs of the Commonwealth, and a well known leader in the Pacific. We in the Commonwealth had great admiration and respect for His Majesty."

In a condolence letter to Prime Minister Fred Sevele, the Secretary-General also indicated that he will be represented at the Royal Funeral - to be held in Tonga on Tuesday 19th September - by Sir Douglas Graham, former New Zealand Minister and the Secretary-General's Special Envoy in Tonga.

Note to Editors:

The late King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV ascended the throne of Tonga in 1965, on the death of his mother Queen Salote. He became the second longest serving Monarch in the only Kingdom in the South Pacific. Tonga has been a member of the Commonwealth since 1970.