Royal Palace, Tonga


The Royal Palace of the Kingdom of Tonga is located in the northwest of the capital, Nukualofa, close to the Pacific Ocean. The wooden Palace, which was built in 1867, is the official residence of the King of Tonga. The palace is not open to the public, and it is easily visible from the waterfront.

Overview

In line with the deference the Tongans have for the Royal Family, poets almost never refer to the palace by name, but use heliaki or allegoric references like: Fanga-tapu, Loto-ā, Ā-maka, Hangai Tokelau, and so forth.
The old, metre-high stone fence was so sacred to the king that none would dare sit on it, let alone cross it. However, after 1990, King Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV had a 3-metre high grid fence erected. After 2000, some people broke through the gates with trucks, prompting the installation of iron bars to secure the gates.

Other royal residences

The King and royal family have several more palaces to choose from. There is a palace in Fuaamotu, as well as Kauvai near Longoteme, Liukava in Kolovai, and both Tufumāhina and Vila between Koloua and Pea.
The vila was built by Crown Prince Tupoutoa in the 1990s, who remained there upon his accession as King George Tupou V, far away from any neighbours. Since then, the palace remained largely unused. However, in 2010 major renovations were conducted. A new fence was erected and new wings were added to house the Tongan national archives on one side and the privy council offices on the other side. It is expected that the king will also have royal audiences there again, instead of the now-deserted buildings of the former British High Commission.
There is Tauakipulu palace on Lifuka in Haapai, Fangatongo near Talau on Vavau, and there are residences in Niuafoou and Niuatoputapu. The palace of Eua is just north of the harbour in Taanga. In the 1980s, Taufa'ahau Tupou IV had a new palace built on a mountaintop near Houma, but it was unused and by around 1990 only the artistically made bathtub remained, overgrown by weeds disappearing sometime around 2000.

Significant events

In Feb 2017, a vigil marked by choral singing and small fires was held at the perimeter of the Royal Palace on the eve of the funeral of Tonga's Queen Mother.