King Told Of Succession On Drive To Citv

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30936, 17 December 1965, Page 3

King Told Of Succession On Drive To Citv

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, December 16. News of the death of his mother, Queen Salote, and the fact that he had succeeded to the constitutional. monarchy was given to the new King of Tonga in a car between Auckland airport and the city in the early i hours of this morning.

I le was told by Queen Salote’s personal chaplain, the Rev. Lepa Kupu. After a brief visit to the hospital, the King and his household took part in family prayers at Queen Salote’s residence. Atalanga, in St. Andrew’s road, Epsom.

Queen Salote died soon after 12.30 a.m. The new king has already been proclaimed in Tonga, taking the title of King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV.

King Tupou said that the proclamation of his succession had already been approved for such an occasion as Queen Salote’s health had given rise to some concern. "I arrived at 1.30 a.m. and boarded a car for the hospital.” he said. "It was here that the Queen’s chaplain told me the sad news.

Plane Late "I had flown in by Air New Zealand but unfortunately we were several hours late because the aircraft had lost the use of one radar set and had to stop at Honolulu to change it. It was the first commercial flight, so we were fortunate to have been able to get on it at all. I flew from Tonga to Nandi to catch it.” “The New Zealand Government has most kindly made service aircraft available. “The funeral will be held in Nukualofa, the capital. The last such occasion was the funeral of my grandfather. King Tupou 11. in 1917.” He said that there would be a coronation ceremony according to the common customary observance, but it would probably not be held for a year. There would be an official period of mourning of six months during which gatherings of a gay nature would not be held or attended "The name 1 formerly bore, Crown Prince Tungi. will not now be used until another is appointed to that particular title. “My brother. Prince Tuipelehake. who has been Dep-

conveyed through him to I Queen Elizabeth. Messages of sympathy from; the Queen and the Govern-1 ment of Britain and many* other governments had been: received this morning in * Tonga. The King’s eldest son now becomes Crown Prince, with the title Crown Prince Taufa’-| :ahau Manumataongo. Queen Salote’s body would | lie in state when she was, taken back to Tonga. She ‘would also lie in state in New Zealand, so that the 600-strong Tongan community could pay tributes, said the King. To a question whether it was customary to send flowers as a tribute to the late Queen, the King said that this jwas quite acceptable.

uty Prime Minister, will continue with that responsibility. He will carry- out my former duties of Prime Minister and will ultimately succeed me as Prime Minister." Messages Received The King said that the Gov-ernor-General (Sir Bernard Fergusson) was informed immediately of Queen Salote’s death and the tidings were