Princess Mele Siu'ilikutapu Funeral at Royal Palace
Channel: Biographies And History
Date: 2023-06-02

A vigil is being held for HRH Princess Mele Siu'ilikutapu Kalaniuvalu Fotofili, lying at the Royal Palace in Nuku'alofa, after the funeral cortège arrived this afternoon from Auckland, New Zealand.

HM King Tupou VI and other members of the Royal Family were present to receive the royal funeral cortège, that arrived on an Air New Zealand flight at Fua'amotu International Airport. 

School students and mourners paid their respect by sitting with heads bowed on the side of the roads, as the royal funeral procession made its way from the airport to the Royal Palace. 

A vigil is being held tonight with various prayer services up until midnight. 

The President of the Free Wesleyan Church, Rt. Hon. Rev. Dr Tevita Koloa'ia Havea and the Sia'atoutai Theological College carried out the first prayer service, after the royal funeral cortège arrived at the Royal Palace. 

Princess Mele Siu'ilikutapu will be laid to rest at the Royal Tombs, Mala'ekula tomorrow, Saturday, 3 June. She passed away at the age of 75-years on 28 May.