The last kingdom-paradise in the South Seas: Tonga
Posted in Famous news stories, Historical articles, History, Royalty on Friday, 30 December 2011
This edited article about Tonga originally appeared in Look and Learn issue number 887 published on 20 January 1979.
The rain started just as Queen Elizabeth’s coronation cavalcade set off from Westminster Abbey for her triumphal return to Buckingham Palace as Britain’s newly crowned monarch. On that grey June day in 1953 the crowds had been waiting to acclaim her for long hours. Many had camped out on the pavements overnight. Then, in the early afternoon, the cold rain swept down, making the ceremonial horses prance and buck.
As the Queen, waving and smiling from her golden coach, captured the heart of London, so did another queen riding in an open carriage behind her, ignoring the rain and acknowledging the special cheers from the crowds along the royal route.
Queen Salote of Tonga, a jolly, ample figure in a silver and white gown, admired the stoic loyalty of the coronation throngs so much that she decided to leave her carriage covers down and face the torrent with them. The people loved her for that unselfish gesture. She returned their roars of welcome with laughter and plump waving hands. By the time it was all over, she had won an enduring place in the affections of all who had seen her.
For most people, Tonga was an unknown land, but after the coronation everyone in Britain knew where it was: a collection of islands on the other side of the world close to the International Date-line.
Queen Salote died in 1965 after reigning for 47 years. Her son, King Taufa’ahau Tupou IV, now rules over the 169 islands and islets – mostly uninhabited.
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