The lady in question, 'Ilima Lei Tohi Fifita, is tha adopted daughter of the late King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV. What happened was that at her wedding in 1997 to a member of the noble Kalaniuvalu Fotofili, the late king was too ill to walk her down the isle. Her adoptive brother therefore stood in for his father and gave the bride away. The above from someone who was a guest at the wedding. A Norwegian newspaper article says much the same thing. http://www.aftenposten.no/forbruker/reise/article460283.ece?sted=Tonga The NZ article is replete with silly rubbish about uniforms and London Taxis. The uniform that the King has beean wearing is little different from the dress uniform of all soldiers in the Tongan Defence Services. Indeed, the tropical pith helmet is hardly different from that worn by the New Zealand Army Band and until recently, the NZ Police. As for the London taxi, the tradition dates back to Queen Salote who purchased one after her visit to London where she found the taxis comfortable, roomy and it sharp turning circle convenient for Nukualofa's narrow streets. Prince Philip himself owns one and darts around London in it because it is a convenient way of doing so. Having followed all the funeral arrangements closely, what is most evident is the modesty of the new King. He did not wear either the orders and decorations as entitled to as sovereign, nor the uniform of General-in-Chief. Instead the modest uniform of Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Guards and Tonga Defence Force of which he has been head since 1969. He also gave up the large limousine for the benefit of his overseas Royal guests from Japan and the UK. Finally, one should say that having children out of wedlock does not carry any sort of stigma in Tongan society. The late Queen Salote had three illegitimate brothers, one of whom was a very distinguished soldier in the British Army and Fijian Cabinet Minister. Her own husband, Prince Consort Tungi, had an illegitimate daughter who also settled in Fiji. --Previous Message--
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: --Previous Message--
: Now, while reading the articles about the
: new
: Crown Prince of Tonga, I have just read that
: at least a fews sources mention the fact
: that the King has "a 32-year-old
: illegitimate daughter and three
: grandchildren but they are not recognised as
: royalty". I haven't heard about it
: before.
:
: And your sources for this is?
:
: DTH
:
:
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