Tonga Mourns King's Death

Tonga's new king, King George Tupou V, is seen after the funeral of his father, the late King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV, in Nuku'alofa, Tonga Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2006. The new king faces growing calls for greater democracy in one of the world's last monarchies where the royals hold near absolute power.

Tonga's King George Tupou V, right, shakes hands with Japan's Crown Prince Naruhito as Queen Halaevalu Mata'aho watches after the funeral of the late King Tupou IV, in Tonga, Sept. 19, 2006. Other dignitaries included the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester representing Britain, the prime ministers of New Zealand and Fiji, the President of French Polynesia and governors general from Australia and New Zealand.

King George Tupou V, center, walks toward the tomb of his father, the late King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV, at the state funeral in Nuku'alofa, Tonga Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2006. Tupou V led dignitaries from 30 nations in laying wreaths, and an estimated 20,000 people in a three-hour Wesleyan Christian funeral service at the Tongan Royal Tombs, Mala'e Kula.

The Royal casket containing the body of the late King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV is carried to the royal tomb for a state funeral in Nuku'alofa, Tonga Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2006. Tonga came to a standstill as the tiny Pacific Island nation buried its King of 41 years in an elaborate state funeral that mixed tribal traditions with Christian prayers, royal pomp with village-style feasts.

Soldiers remove the Tongan flag from the casket of King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV as the entombment begins at the Lauakai, Royal Burial ground, Nuku'alofa, Tonga, Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2006. Tupou IV died at age 88 in a hospital in the northern New Zealand city of Auckland on Sept. 11, plunging Tonga, a nation of 114,000, into mourning.

The catafalque bearing the casket of King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV, moves slowly up Kings Road to Lauaki, the Royal Burial ground for his entombment, Nuku'alofa, Tonga, Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2006. One thousand pallbearers escorted the coffin on its journey from the beach-side royal palace to the funeral site as mourners lining the route sat silently.

The King of Tonga's crown is carried across the Royal burial grounds prior to the funeral of King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV in Nuku'alofa, Tonga, Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2006. Tonga came to a standstill Tuesday as the tiny Pacific Island nation buried its beloved King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV in an elaborate state funeral that mixed tribal traditions with Christian prayers, royal pomp with village-style feasts.

Mourners line the streets as the hearse bearing King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV travels down the main street followed by a 100 car entourage to the Royal Palace in Nuku'alofa, Tonga, Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2006. The South Pacific nation was brought to a near-standstill as the body of its late king arrived home for burial.

King Taufa'ahau Tupou's casket is carried from the Royal New Zealand Air Force Hercules to a waiting hearse at Fua'amotu Airport before the drive to the Royal Palace in Nuku'alofa, Tonga, Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2006. Tupou IV died late Sunday at the age of 88 in an Auckland, New Zealand hospital. He led his kingdom of 114,000 people for 41 years.

Members of the Navy, Air Force and Army line a guard of honor for the body of the late Tongan King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV at Whenuapai Airbase Sept. 13, 2006, in Auckland, New Zealand. The King died on Sunday and lay in state in Auckland before making the journey home to Tonga for his State funeral to be held on Sept. 19, 2006.

Queen Halaevalu Mata'aho, wife of the late Tongan King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV is escorted to the plane at Whenuapai Airbase Sept. 13, 2006, in Auckland, New Zealand. The King died on Sunday and lay in State in Auckland before making the journey home to Tonga for his State funeral to be held on Tuesday, Sept. 19.

Princess Pilolevu walks past the guard of honor as she follows the hearse carrying her father, the late Tongan King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV at Whenuapai Airbase, Sept. 13, 2006 in Auckland, New Zealand.

Tonga's King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV relaxes in the royal palace in the Tongan capital, Nuku'alofa, on Jan. 18, 2002. His death on Sept. 11, 2006, ended one of the world's longest reigns by a monarch in modern times. He ascended the throne in 1965 after his mother, Queen Salote, died, and ruled for 41 years. His son, Crown Prince Tupouto, immediately ascended the throne and has taken the name King Taufa'ahau Tupou V.

Tonga's King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV, a towering figure in the tiny Pacific Island nation for four decades, died in a New Zealand hospital on Sunday night. His death at age 88 ends one of the world's longest reigns by a monarch in modern times. At age 14, the future king was one of Tonga's top athletes. But like many of his countrymen he became obese, and remained so for most of his adult life.

The body of the late King of Tonga, Taufa'ahau Tupou IV, arrives at his residence in Auckland, New Zealand, on Sept. 12, 2006. The king's body will lie in state at his Auckland residence before being flown back to Tonga on Wednesday. In his later years, the king divided his time between Tonga and New Zealand.

Royal Tongan guards patrol the grounds of the Tongan King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV's New Zealand residency in Auckland on Sept. 12, 2006. King Tupou IV died late Sunday in a private hospital in New Zealand's largest city. He led his kingdom of 114,000 people, spread across 170 mainly coral islands, for 41 years.

With traditional funeral mats wrapped around their waists, members of Auckland's Tongan community return after paying their respects to King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV at his New Zealand residence in Auckland, Sept. 12, 2006. The 88-year-old king died Sept. 10 in a private hospital in Auckland. A one-month state mourning began Tuesday, while the Tongan royal family will observe a six-month official mourning period.

Hon. Fielakepa, Lord Chamberlain of the Tongan Royal Household, arrives at the royal residence in Auckland, New Zealand, with the body of the late king of Tonga, Sept. 12, 2006. Before his death, Tupou IV's 41-year reign made him one of the world's longest-serving sovereigns, after Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and Samoa's King Malietoa Tanumafili II.

Helen Clark, New Zealand's Prime Minister, addresses the media after paying her respects to the late king of Tonga, Taufa'ahau Tupou IV, in Auckland on Sept. 12, 2006. The Kingdom of Tonga is an independent archipelago in the southern Pacific Ocean. It lies about a third of the way between New Zealand and Hawaii.

The Tongan Royal family is also mourning the deaths of the King's nephew, Prince Tu'ipelehake and his wife, Princess Kaimana, shown at the King's 88th birthday party at the Royal Palace, in Nuku'alofa, Tonga, July 4, 2006. The couple and their driver were killed in a vehicle accident in Menlo Park, Calif., on July 5.