KING OF TONGA MARRIED

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 146, 22 June 1899, Page 5

KING OF TONGA MARRIED

AN INTERESTING FUNCTION,

For nearly two years there have, been constant rumours of the marriage of .the King- of Tonga, and current report has coupled his name with more than one prominent princess of the group. Further speculation has been set at rest by the long-talked-of at length happening, for one June Ist the young King entered the holy bonds of matrimony. The final choice of a bride by Tubou 11. (George) came somewhat as a surprise, for His Majesty, instead of marrying the Princess Ofa, of Nina, as was expected by nearly all his people, took for his Queen the Princess Tavinia, daughter of Kubu, Minister of Police, and the grand-daughter of Tavinia, the highest chief woman of Yavau.

On Monday, May 22, the nobles and chiefs met, at the invitation of the King, to consider the matter of his marriage. The King wrote to them to acquaint them with the fact that of the two princesses he preferred Tavinia. Notwithstanding the expressed preference of Tubou for Kubu's daughter, seventeen of the chiefs present expressed their opinion that the King should marry Ofa, and there were only some seven in favour of Tavinia—the King's choice. A letter was sent to Tuboii- acquainting him with the fact that the majority of his chiefs were of the opinion that .he should marry Ofa.

After many days' lengthy discussions, and upon Tubou's declaring that if he could not marry Tavinia he would marry no one, but- remain single, the majority of the supporters of Ofa gave in, and in the end the result was that a message was sent to His Majesty in which he was requested to please himself, which he did by almost immediately issuing the invitations to the wedding between himself and Princess Tavinia. Invitations Avere issued on May 3Qth.. and, as before stated, the ceremony took place on June Ist.

At aboilt eleven o clock the firing of a.royal salute announced the approach of the King, who, entei-ing the church from his own door at the back, seated himself on his Usual chair upon the dais, and waited the arrival of his bride

The church was densely packed with the invited guests, both European and Tongan. The King was accompanied by Fatafehi (his father), who acted as his groomsman, and he had two pages also hi" attendance, dressed in the royal colours (red and white). The church was nicety decorated, considering the short time at the decorator's disposal (about two days) and the scarcity of materials.

Tubou had not long to wait, and as Tavinia, with her attendant bridesmaids (six in number), and accompanied by her father, Ktibu, who was to give her away, marched slowly up the church, the King stepped down from the dais and took his place at her side in front of the communion rail. The proceedings commenced shortly after eleven a.m. by the singing of a wedding1 hymn and the chanting of the Lord's Prayer.

The usual declaration precedent to marriage was then made and signed by His Majesty and the bride. This was followed by the reading of the marriage service of the Tongan Free Church by. the officiating minister, the Rev. J. B. Watlcin, the King's chaplain. At the conclusion of the mar-' I'iage service the' certificates were signed by His Ma jest and the bride, the same being witnessed by the Governors of Vavau and Habai. Immediately after the conclusion of the marriage service the royal couple ascended the dais and took their respective chairs. After a few moments the King stood up, and the, Princess Tavinia "kneeling on the footstool, her principal bridesmaid unfastened her veil and the King placed a light and elegant golden crown upon her head, proclaiming her to be the Queen of Tonga.

At the conclusion of the marriage service and crowning of the Queen a salute of one hundred and one guns was fired.

The bride's dress was of the richest white Duchesse satin.

A rich and costly wedding- breakfast was laid out partly in the palace and partly in a pavilion on the lawn. A dozen guests breakfasted with the King1 and Queen, and the rest of the wedding guests were entertained in the pavilion. Toasts vrere g-iven and speeches made, and the whole of the -eremony passed off without a hitch if any kind. The levee in the afternoon was well attended.