The Order was established on 28 June 2008 by His Late Majesty King George Tupou V to commemorate the grand figure of his grandmother, Queen Sālote Tupou III, who, during the nearly fifty years of her government, had guided the state of Tonga to a substantial economical and social evolution. The Order has been created as the principal civil reward for meritorious personal services to the sovereign. Above all, it is awarded as a Family Order for Tongan & foreign Royal Families.
Classes
The Order consists of four classes:
Knight Grand Cross with Collar - Collar, Star, Sash, Miniature & Rosette
Knight/Dame Grand Cross - Sash, Star, Miniature & Rosette
Knight/Dame Commander - Necklet badge from a ribbon, Miniature & Rosette
Member - Breast badge from a ribbon, Miniature & Rosette
Insignia
The ribbon for the two upper classes is a 102mm sky-blue-ultramarine Sash
Knight Grand Cross
The Collar is a double gold chain, the centre-piece looks like being a gold knot, tied with a ribbon in the base. Moving upwards from the centre-piece on either side, a gold dove with its wings displayed and turned slightly towards the centre, alternating with the golden knot of the centre-piece. The Collar Badge is a deep-blue enamelled Maltese cross with a white edge, between each arm is a golden dove with a fleur-de-lis at the dove’s claws. The gold central medallion has a raised bust of Queen Salote Topou III, also in gold. The dark-blue riband probably has the name of the order in gold capital letters, above the cross is a gold Tongan crown.
The Star is an 8-pointed silver, silver-gilt and enamel faceted star, with the collar badge superimposed in the centre.
Grand Cross
The Star is an 8-pointed silver and enamel star, the collar badge is placed overall in the centre, the dove and the fleurs-de-lis are silver.
Commander
The necklet badge is similar to the collar-badge except, that the central medallion is silver-gilt, the riband is dark-blue with the legend in gold capital letters, all suspended from a gold Tongan crown. The necklet ribbon is sky-blue-ultramarine and approx. 41mm.
Member
The breast badge is, as the Commander’s class, in silver and enamel. The breast ribbon is approximately 38 mm.
