The New King of Tonga - Photos - The Big Picture - Boston.com The New King of Tonga On August 1st, the Kingdom of Tonga crowned its newest ruler, King George Tupou V. In a ceremony that lasted for days, and cost over $2.5 million (US), the 60-year old King was crowned as one of the few remaining monarchs with true ruling power - but that is about to change. In 2006, pro-democracy riots shook the small island nation of 112,000. The coronation was postponed, and now King George pledges that "The Sovereign of the only Polynesian kingdom... is voluntarily surrendering his powers to meet the democratic aspirations of many of his people." He promised to cede most power to a prime minister, and to hold parliamentary elections in 2010. ( 14 photos total ) The King of Tonga George Tupou V, right, is crowned by His Grace the Archbishop Jabez Bryce in Nuku'aloka,Tonga, Friday, Aug. 1, 2008.

The coronation, which included singing by a choir of more than 300, was the first in Tonga since 1967 when King George V's father, the late King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV, ascended to the throne. (AP Photo/New Zealand Herald) Thousands of school children gather for Education Day with The King of Tonga George Tupou V in Nuku'aloka,Tonga, Monday, July 28, 2008. Preparations have begun for a lavish coronation ceremonies starting Wednesday to formally enthrone George V, a hugely ceremonial event that is expected to bring Tonga to a standstill for four days and be watched throughout the region. (AP Photo/New Zealand Herald, Glenn Jeffrey) Tongan students wearing fa seed necklaces perform the Lakalaka dance for King George Tupou V during the Cultural Day celebrations in the capital, Nuku'alofa on July 29, 2008. The monarch was formally installed as the 23rd ruler of the South Pacific's only absolute aristocracy at a coronation ceremony on August 1.

(Torsten Blackwood/AFP/Getty Images) Tongan nobles wearing 'aofivalas (waist mats) await the arrival of King George Tupou V for the taumafa kava ritual and coronation ceremony in the sacred Pangai Lahi gathering area of Nuku'alofa on July 30, 2008. Consuming a coconut shell of kava in a single motion meant that the monarch formally became the 23rd ruler of the South Pacific's only absolute aristocracy. (Torsten Blackwood/AFP/Getty Images) Tongan school children perform during Education Day for King George Tupou V in Nuku'aloka,Tonga Monday, July 28, 2008. (AP Photo/New Zealand Herald, Glenn Jeffrey) Tonga's newly crowned monarch, King Siaosi (George) Tupou V (L, standing in Land Rover), inspects his troops during the Coronation Military Parade in Nuku'alofa on August 2, 2008. The 60-year-old ruler is remaking his former image as an eccentric bachelor prince with a love of elaborate military uniforms into a sovereign leading Polynesia's last kingdom towards democracy.

(Torsten Blackwood/AFP/Getty Images) Tonga's newly crowned monarch, King Siaosi (George) Tupou V, salutes as he departs the Coronation Military Parade in Nuku'alofa on August 2, 2008. (Torsten Blackwood/AFP/Getty Images) Japan's Crown Prince Naruhito (2nd L) arrives to join Tonga's crowned monarch, King Siaosi (George) Tupou V, for the Coronation Military Parade in Nuku'alofa on August 2, 2008. (Torsten Blackwood/AFP/Getty Images) Over 100 slaughtered pigs are offered to King George Tupou V during the taumafa kava ritual and coronation ceremony in the sacred Pangai Lahi gathering area of Nuku'alofa on July 30, 2008. (Torsten Blackwood/AFP/Getty Images) Tongan school children burn torches during the ancient Tupakapakanava ceremony to honour the coronation of King George Tupou V in Nuku'alofa on July 30, 2008.

Some 30,000 torches illuminated the coastline of the archipelago to herald the annointment of the 23rd ruler of the South Pacific's only absolute monarchy. (Torsten Blackwood/AFP/Getty Images) Tonga's King George Tupou V, seated in his throne, attend his coronation ceremony in the nation's capital city Nuku'alofa August 1, 2008. Amid pealing bells, booming cannons, balloons and cheering children, Tonga crowned its new king on in a British-styled church ceremony, before a congregation of 1,000 that included Tongan, British, Japanese and Thai royalty, as well as South Pacific chiefs and heads of state. (REUTERS/Peter Halmagy) The newly crowned King of Tonga, George Tupou V is seen in Nuku'aloka,Tonga, Friday, Aug. 1, 2008. (AP Photo/New Zealand Herald) King Siaosi (George) Tupou V is driven away on a road covered with mulberry bark tapa from his lavish Christian coronation ceremony at the Centenary Free Wesleyan Church in Nuku'alofa on August 1, 2008.

(Torsten Blackwood/AFP/Getty Images) Reserve Bank of Tonga clerk Selaima Finau displays the just released one hundred pa'anga note featuring the new monarch, King Siaosi (George) Tupou V, in Nuku'alofa on July 31, 2008. All lower denomination notes which carry the face of the late King Tupou IV will be phased out in 2009 and replaced by the updated currency printed by Thomas de la Rue of the UK which carries the portrait of the South Pacific kingdom's new ruler. (Torsten Blackwood/AFP/Getty Images) More links and information King of Tonga dies: Flamboyant ruler brought democratic change March 19, 2012 | 2:10 pm Tonga is in mourning for a king who helped bring about what his all-powerful father refused to: democratic reform. The Tongan government on Monday confirmed the death of the 63-year-old monarch, George Tupou V, according to International Business Times, but it did not give a cause.

The bachelor king, known for his globe-trotting, his pith helmets and his monocle, had undergone surgery for cancer last year in Los Angeles, reports Agence France-Presse. George Tupou V was crowned king of the small Polynesian nation in August 2008. He took over after the 2006 death of his father, King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV, who had ruled the small Polynesian nation since 1967. During his reign, Taufa'ahau Tupou refused to bow to demands of democracy advocates and share power with an elected parliament. As The Times reported in 2002, critics accused members of the royal family of having enriched themselves through special deals with the government and putting millions of dollars in overseas banks. Meanwhile, most of the island nation's people lived in poverty as subsistence farmers. Tupou V promised reforms soon after being sworn in. Riots that left eight people dead followed, making changes to the constitution a top priority and delaying his official coronation for two years. Despite the democratic reforms, his coronation ceremony didn't stint on the fabulous.

A Times article in 2008 told of the elaborate proceedings in which he was anointed with oil and a large gold crown was placed on his head. Tupou V sat on a golden throne in the capital's Centenary Church with 1,000 guests, as Archbishop of Polynesia Jabez Bryce proclaimed he had been "anointed, blessed and consecrated" as king of the South Pacific nation. In 2010, 165 years of feudal rule ended as Tonga held its first vote for a popularly elected parliament. Poverty continues in the nation. Still, Tupou V's contributions to change are seen as his legacy. New Zealand's prime minister, John Key, said Monday in a statement that Tupou V made a "very valuable contribution ... in steering Tonga toward democracy." "He believed that the monarchy was an instrument of change and can truly be seen as the architect of evolving democracy in Tonga," Key said. "This will be his enduring legacy." Crown Prince Tupouto'a Lavaka, Tupou V's brother, is the heir to the throne.

His coronation and the funeral for Tupou V are expected to be lavish and a possible further burden on the country's finances, according to Agence France-Presse. ALSO: George Tupou V is Crowned as the New King of Tonga | World History Project Aug 1 2008 George Tupou V is Crowned as the New King of Tonga George Tupou V (Tongan: Siaosi Tupou V, full name: Siaosi Tāufaʻāhau Manumataongo Tukuʻaho Tupou V), (born 4 May 1948) is the current King of Tonga. Source: Wikipedia Added by: Aimee Lucido Tonga operates as a constitutional monarchy. The reverence for the monarch is likened[by whom?] to that held in earlier centuries for the sacred paramount chief, the Tuʻi Tonga. Criticism of the monarch is held to be contrary to Tongan culture and etiquette. A direct descendant of the first monarch, King George Tupou V, his family, some powerful nobles, and a growing non-royal elite caste live in much wealth, with the rest of the country living in relative poverty.

The effects of this disparity are mitigated by three factors: education, medicine, and land tenure. Source: Wikipedia Added by: Aimee Lucido The 2006 Nukuʻalofa riots started on November 16, in the Tongan capital of Nukuʻalofa. The Legislative Assembly of Tonga (the majority of which is appointed by the King) was due to adjourn for the year and despite promises of action, had done little to advance democracy in the government. A mixed crowd of democracy advocates took to the streets in protest. Some people in the crowd starting tipping over cars, then progressed to looting and burning buildings. Source: Wikipedia Added by: Aimee Lucido More information Kingdom of Tonga celebrates as George Tupou V is crowned The newly crowned King George V of Tonga takes to his throne in robes tailored in Savile Row.

His father King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV, passed away two years ago Photo: ï¿½ PA Click on photos to enlarge The new leader receives the symbol of his kingship after being anointed and blessed by the Archbishop of Polynesia Photo: ï¿½ PA Kingdom of Tonga celebrates as George Tupou V is crowned 1 AUGUST 2008 Fireworks and cannon fire filled the air above Tonga on Friday, as the South Pacific nation celebrated the coronation of King George V. The new monarch was crowned in front of 1,000 guests - including Britain's Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and the Japanese crown prince Naruhito - at a ceremony in the capital. The Oxford and Sandhurst-educated king arrived at the church by limousine after wending his way through streets decorated with handwoven mats, balloons, streamers and banners. Seated on a gold throne, he was then annointed with oil and blessed by the Archbishop of Polynesia.

Afterwards church bells rang out and a 21-cannon salute was fired as George V - dressed in silk knee breeches and wearing a ten foot-long, ermine-trimmed cape - emerged to cheers from thousands of well-wishers lining the roads of the island's capital, Nuku'alofa. The monarch and his guests then enjoyed a lavish lunch, traditional dancing and three balls - one for VVIPs - very very important people - one for VIPs and another for other invitees. The festivities were just the start of four days of celebrations in the 748-square-kilometre kingdom. THE MONARCHIST INITIATIVE: Tongan king crowned Monday, August 11, 2008 Tongan king crowned Tonga has celebrated its first coronation in 41 years. Following an ancient ceremony, King George Tupou V was formally installed as the 23rd ruler of the South Pacific's only monarchy, unique among Pacific nations because it never completely lost its indigenous governance.

Cannons were fired and church bells rang out as the King of Tonga was crowned monarch of the tiny South Pacific nation on August 1 2008 in a ceremony attended by royalty and political leaders from around the world. Dressed in crimson robes trimmed with white ermine, King George Tupou V sat on a gilt throne in the Free Wesleyan church in the capital of Nuku'alofa while a 300-strong choir performed Handel's coronation anthem, Zadok the Priest. Speaking in Tongan, the 60-year-old sovereign took the oath of office before the Archbishop of Polynesia, Jabez Bryce, anointed the sovereign's head and hands with holy oil and entreated him to rule „wisely, justly and truly“. A crown was placed on the king's head and he was handed a ring and a red and gold sceptre. The western-style coronation for Polynesia's only monarch had been preceded earlier in the week by a traditional Tongan coronation ceremony in which he drank kava, a mildly narcotic beverage, and was presented with gifts of food from his people.

Among the guests were Japan's Crown Prince Naruhito, Thailand's Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn and the prime minister of New Zealand, Helen Clark, as well as nobility and royalty from most of the nations in the region. Britain was represented by the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester. The day had been declared a national holiday and outside crowds of Tongans waved flags in the country's colours of red and white in celebration. There were marching bands and the city centre had been decorated in flags, bunting and ceremonial arches made of palm fronds and banana leaves. The elderly sovereign arrived at the church in a vintage Humber Super Snipe coupe, a British-made car once owned by his grandmother, Queen Salote, who endeared herself to the British public during the Queen's coronation in 1953 by riding in an open carriage in the rain. At the end of the hour-long ceremony, the king was escorted by naval officers and courtiers down steps that had been covered in traditional mats. He was driven through the streets of Nuku'alofa as thousands of schoolchildren lined the route and cheered. The king took the title two years ago after the death of his father, who had ruled for 41 years.

The coronation was originally scheduled for last year but was postponed after pro-democracy riots left eight people dead and the centre of the capital looted and burned. In the run-up to the coronation, the king announced that he was dismantling the country's semi-feudal political system in favour of a more democratically elected parliament. He has also divested himself of his business interests and made it clear that he will have more of a figurehead role in the future. Among those who attended the coronation was pro-democracy campaigner Akilisi Pohiva, who has twice been jailed. He described the ceremony as „beautiful“ and said that the sense of uncertainty among Tongans about the future had been erased. „We are very proud of His Majesty. He was under pressure to change and he has,“ he said. „In fact, he has done more than we could have hoped for.“ Later there was a lunch at the Royal Palace for more than 1,000 guests, who had dressed in top hats, tails and full length gowns despite the tropical heat. In the evening there was a musical concert and a fireworks display. The festivities continued the next day with a military parade.

at WOW Cool Pics: The New King of Tonga The New King of Tonga On August 1st, the Kingdom of Tonga crowned its newest ruler, King George Tupou V. In a ceremony that lasted for days, and cost over $2.5 million (US), the 60-year old King was crowned as one of the few remaining monarchs with true ruling power - but that is about to change. In 2006, pro-democracy riots shook the small island nation of 112,000. The coronation was postponed, and now King George pledges that “The Sovereign of the only Polynesian kingdom… is voluntarily surrendering his powers to meet the democratic aspirations of many of his people.” He promised to cede most power to a prime minister, and to hold parliamentary elections in 2010. The King of Tonga George Tupou V, right, is crowned by His Grace the Archbishop Jabez Bryce in Nuku’aloka,Tonga, Friday, Aug. 1, 2008.

The coronation, which included singing by a choir of more than 300, was the first in Tonga since 1967 when King George V’s father, the late King Taufa’ahau Tupou IV, ascended to the throne. (AP Photo/New Zealand Herald) Thousands of school children gather for Education Day with The King of Tonga George Tupou V in Nuku’aloka,Tonga, Monday, July 28, 2008. Preparations have begun for a lavish coronation ceremonies starting Wednesday to formally enthrone George V, a hugely ceremonial event that is expected to bring Tonga to a standstill for four days and be watched throughout the region. (AP Photo/New Zealand Herald, Glenn Jeffrey) Tongan students wearing fa seed necklaces perform the Lakalaka dance for King George Tupou V during the Cultural Day celebrations in the capital, Nuku’alofa on July 29, 2008. The monarch was formally installed as the 23rd ruler of the South Pacific’s only absolute aristocracy at a coronation ceremony on August 1.

(Torsten Blackwood/AFP/Getty Images) Tongan nobles wearing ‘aofivalas (waist mats) await the arrival of King George Tupou V for the taumafa kava ritual and coronation ceremony in the sacred Pangai Lahi gathering area of Nuku’alofa on July 30, 2008. Consuming a coconut shell of kava in a single motion meant that the monarch formally became the 23rd ruler of the South Pacific’s only absolute aristocracy. (Torsten Blackwood/AFP/Getty Images) Tongan school children perform during Education Day for King George Tupou V in Nuku’aloka,Tonga Monday, July 28, 2008. (AP Photo/New Zealand Herald, Glenn Jeffrey) Tonga’s newly crowned monarch, King Siaosi (George) Tupou V (L, standing in Land Rover), inspects his troops during the Coronation Military Parade in Nuku’alofa on August 2, 2008. The 60-year-old ruler is remaking his former image as an eccentric bachelor prince with a love of elaborate military uniforms into a sovereign leading Polynesia’s last kingdom towards democracy.

(Torsten Blackwood/AFP/Getty Images) Tonga’s newly crowned monarch, King Siaosi (George) Tupou V, salutes as he departs the Coronation Military Parade in Nuku’alofa on August 2, 2008. (Torsten Blackwood/AFP/Getty Images) Japan’s Crown Prince Naruhito (2nd L) arrives to join Tonga’s crowned monarch, King Siaosi (George) Tupou V, for the Coronation Military Parade in Nuku’alofa on August 2, 2008. (Torsten Blackwood/AFP/Getty Images) Over 100 slaughtered pigs are offered to King George Tupou V during the taumafa kava ritual and coronation ceremony in the sacred Pangai Lahi gathering area of Nuku’alofa on July 30, 2008. (Torsten Blackwood/AFP/Getty Images) Tongan school children burn torches during the ancient Tupakapakanava ceremony to honour the coronation of King George Tupou V in Nuku’alofa on July 30, 2008.

Some 30,000 torches illuminated the coastline of the archipelago to herald the annointment of the 23rd ruler of the South Pacific’s only absolute monarchy. (Torsten Blackwood/AFP/Getty Images) Tonga’s King George Tupou V, seated in his throne, attend his coronation ceremony in the nation’s capital city Nuku’alofa August 1, 2008. Amid pealing bells, booming cannons, balloons and cheering children, Tonga crowned its new king on in a British-styled church ceremony, before a congregation of 1,000 that included Tongan, British, Japanese and Thai royalty, as well as South Pacific chiefs and heads of state. (REUTERS/Peter Halmagy) The newly crowned King of Tonga, George Tupou V is seen in Nuku’aloka,Tonga, Friday, Aug. 1, 2008. (AP Photo/New Zealand Herald) King Siaosi (George) Tupou V is driven away on a road covered with mulberry bark tapa from his lavish Christian coronation ceremony at the Centenary Free Wesleyan Church in Nuku’alofa on August 1, 2008.

(Torsten Blackwood/AFP/Getty Images) Reserve Bank of Tonga clerk Selaima Finau displays the just released one hundred pa’anga note featuring the new monarch, King Siaosi (George) Tupou V, in Nuku’alofa on July 31, 2008. All lower denomination notes which carry the face of the late King Tupou IV will be phased out in 2009 and replaced by the updated currency printed by Thomas de la Rue of the UK which carries the portrait of the South Pacific kingdom’s new ruler. (Torsten Blackwood/AFP/Getty Images) Tongan king crowned in elaborate ceremony - USATODAY.com Tongan king crowned in elaborate ceremony Posted Enlarge AP Tongan King George Tupou V, right in second row, poses with Japanese Crown Prince Naruhiro, center in second row, and Thailand's Crown Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, left in second row, for photos after George V's coronation in Nuku'alofa, Tonga Friday, Aug. 1, 2008.

George V was crowned as the 23rd King of Tonga on Friday in an elaborate Christian ceremony that many expect will usher in a new, more democratic era for the South Pacific nation. (AP Photo/Kyodo News) By Pita Ligaiula, Associated Press Writer NUKU'ALOFA, Tonga  George Tupou V was crowned as the 23rd king of Tonga on Friday in an elaborate ceremony that many expect will usher in a new, more democratic era for the South Pacific nation. The Christian ceremony was the culmination of almost a week of festivities that included roast pig feasts, tribal rites and British-style pomp. The coronation was the first in Tonga since 1967 when George V's father, the late King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV, ascended to the throne. Days before his coronation, George V announced political reforms that will strip from the monarch most of the near-absolute powers that his family has held for generations. He also said he had shed his stake in national businesses. The moves reflect growing demands for more democratic government in the almost feudal kingdom, where the royal family is generally revered but has also been caught up in money-losing scandals in recent years.

Friday's coronation "marks the opening of a new era in our journey as a nation -- an era of political and economic reform and increased prosperity," Prime Minister Fred Sevele told guests. The king rode in a black limousine to the capital's Centenary Church through streets covered by fine hand-woven mats and lined with crowds of his subjects. Buildings, lamp posts and trees were festooned with garlands, balloons, streamers and banners. He sat on a golden throne in the church in front of 1,000 guests as Archbishop of Polynesia Jabez Bryce proclaimed he had been "anointed, blessed and consecrated" as king of the South Pacific nation. The archbishop called on the king to rule "wisely, justly and truly." A large gold crown was placed on the king's head and a 300-member choir sang hymns. The king, in crisp white stockings and shining black shoes, left the church carrying a gold scepter and wrapped in a heavy black cloak despite the tropical heat, with two boys in uniform carrying its train. A sumptuous royal luncheon followed along with traditional dancing, a fireworks display and an open-air royal charity concert.

There were three separate coronation balls -- one for guests listed as "VVIPs" (very, very important persons), one for "VIPs" and a third for regular guests. The government on Thursday defended the more than $2.5 million price the impoverished nation will pay for the celebrations, saying the money spent by the thousands of tourists the event attracted will more than make up for it. The costs include $418,000 for royal robes made in London, $37,000 for the newly minted scepter -- similar to that of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II -- and 1,000 new chairs embossed in gold lettering with the monogram GVT. More than 5,000 people, from official guests to Tongans living overseas, flocked to the archipelago nation for the crowning. Royalty in attendance included Japan's Crown Prince Naruhito, Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand, New Zealand's Maori King Tuheitia and Britain's Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, representing Queen Elizabeth II. Heads of state and prime ministers of at least nine Pacific Islands nations also attended.

Since his father died in 2006, George V has been trying to shed his reputation as a rich eccentric playboy with a taste for elaborate uniforms, colonial-era pith helmets and monocles. New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark said the coronation came "at an important juncture" in the country's political growth. A new law expected to be passed next year "to enable Tonga to make the next step in its democratic transition is important for Tonga and a wonderful thing for the Pacific," she told reporters ahead of the ceremony. The king officially became the 23rd head of Tonga's Tu'i Kanokupolu line of chiefs on Wednesday in a traditional Tongan ceremony. The line dates back to the 17th century. The celebrations will continue next week, when George V tours the five outer island groups in the nation of 101,000 people to join feasting, singing and dancing in villages. Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Posted E-mail | Print | To report corrections and clarifications, contact Reader Editor Brent Jones .

For publication consideration in the newspaper, send comments to letters@usatoday.com . Include name, phone number, city and state for verification. Guidelines: You share in the USA TODAY community, so please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. Use the "Report Abuse" button to make a difference. Read more . Tonga's New Monarch - Photo 1 - Pictures - CBS News Tonga's New Monarch Next The newly crowned King of Tonga, George Tupou V, is seen in Nuku'aloka, Tonga, Friday, Aug. 1, 2008. The $2.5 million, three-day coronation, which included singing by a choir of more than 300, was the first in Tonga since 1967 when King George V's father, the late King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV, ascended to the throne. Credit: AP The King of Tonga George Tupou V, right, is crowned by His Grace the Archbishop Jabez Bryce in Nuku'aloka, Tonga, Friday, Aug. 1, 2008.

The coronation drew more than 5,000 people to the country. Credit: AP The newly crowned King of Tonga, George Tupou V, is seen in Nuku'aloka,Tonga, Friday, Aug. 1, 2008. Credit: AP Tongan King George Tupou V is saluted as he leaves the capital's Centenary Church after he was crowned in an elaborate Christian ceremony in Nuku'aloka,Tonga, Friday, Aug. 1, 2008. It was the culmination of a three-day event that included a centuries-old tribal ceremony. Credit: AP Among the heads of state attending the coronation of Tongan King George Tupou V, right in second row, were Japanese Crown Prince Naruhiro, center in second row, and Thailand's Crown Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, left in second row. George V was crowned as the 23rd King of Tonga on Friday in an elaborate Christian ceremony that many expect will usher in a new, more democratic era for the South Pacific nation.

Credit: AP Tonga's new monarch, King George Tupou V, sits on his throne in the royal palce during the Royal Honours Investiture Ceremony in Nuku'alofa Thursday, July 31, 2008. The $2.5 million, three-day event includes banquets for visiting heads of state, military parades, fireworks, and elaborate ceremonies that mix British colonial-style pomp with centuries-old tribal traditions. Credit: AP Photo Tongan school children perform during Education Day in Nuku'aloka, Tonga, on Monday, July 28, 2008. It's part of the lavish coronation ceremonies to formally enthrone George V. The largely ceremonial event is expected to bring Tonga to a standstill for four days and be watched throughout the South Pacific. Credit: AP Photo A ceremonial procession arrives at the installation ceremony of King George Tupou V as King of Tonga Wednesday, July 30, 2008, in Nuku'alofa, Tonga. George V was anointed Wednesday as the South Pacific's newest monarch in a centuries-old ritual that included gifts of roasted pigs and slurping the mild narcotic, kava.

Ceremonies culminate Friday with a Christian coronation before foreign heads of state. Credit: AP The King of Tonga George Tupou V waves to thousands of Tongan school children on Monday, July 28, 2008. In Wednesday's Taumafakava ceremony, the king was bestowed with the traditional chiefly Tui Kanokupolu title, making George V the 23rd head of the South Pacific nation's ruling dynasty, founded in the 17th century. Credit: AP Traditional gifts of pigs are laid out for a feast as part of a traditional installation of King George Tupou V as King of Tonga Wednesday, July 30, 2008, in Nuku'aloka, Tonga. The rites performed with dozens of tribal chiefs were the opening salvo in days of festivities marking George V's formal coronation, though he has been Tonga's head of state and leader since his father's 2006 death. Credit: AP Photo Men carry a kava root as part of a traditional installation of King George Tupou V Wednesday, July 30, 2008, in Nuku'alofa, Tonga.

Tribal leaders went through elaborate procedures preparing, presenting and drinking kava, a gritty liquid from the roots of a pepper plant that numbs the lips and mouth. It is widely used at ceremonies across the South Pacific. Credit: AP Men perform a kava making ceremony as part of a traditional installation of Tonga's King George Tupou V Wednesday, July 30, 2008, in Nuku'alofa, Tonga. The ceremony made George V the 23rd head of the South Pacific nation's ruling dynasty, founded in the 17th century. Credit: AP King George Tupou V, left, is given the first bowl of kava during his anointment as King of Tonga Wednesday, July 30, 2008, in Nuku'alofa, Tonga. The king's official orator sang out a traditional cry as the kava bowl was presented to George V. Credit: AP Photo Tonga's King George Tupou V, right, is led from an installation ceremony Wednesday, July 30, 2008, in Nuku'alofa, Tonga.

The tribal ceremony was the first of a series of coronation events, concluding Friday with a rite before before foreign heads of state and other dignitaries. Credit: AP Coronation of King George Tupou V signals new era of democracy in Tonga | World news | The Guardian Close This article is 8 years old Cannons were fired and church bells rang out as the King of Tonga was crowned yesterday in a ceremony on the South Pacific Island attended by royalty and political leaders from around the world. Dressed in crimson robes trimmed with white ermine, King George Tupou V sat on a gilt throne in a 100-year-old church in the capital, Nuku'alofa, while a 300-strong choir performed Handel's coronation anthem, Zadok the Priest. Speaking in Tongan, the 60-year-old sovereign took the oath of office before the Archbishop of Polynesia, Jabez Bryce, anointed the sovereign's head and hands with holy oil and entreated him to rule "wisely, justly and truly". A crown was placed on the king's head and he was handed a ring and a red and gold sceptre.

The western-style coronation for Polynesia's only monarch had been preceded earlier in the week by a traditional Tongan coronation ceremony in which he drank kava, a mildly narcotic beverage, and was presented with gifts of food from his people. The king took the title two years ago after the death of his father, who had ruled for 41 years. The coronation was originally scheduled for last year but was postponed after pro-democracy riots left eight people dead and the centre of the capital looted and burned. In the run-up to the coronation, the king announced that he was dismantling the country's semi-feudal political system in favour of a more democratically elected parliament. He has also divested himself of his business interests and made it clear that he will have more of a figurehead role in the future. Among the guests were Crown Prince Naruhito of Japan, Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand and the prime minister of New Zealand, Helen Clark, as well as nobility and royalty from most of the nations in the South Pacific. Britain was represented by the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.

The day had been declared a national holiday and outside the church crowds of Tongans waved flags in the country's colours of red and white in celebration. There were marching bands and the city centre had been decorated in flags, bunting and ceremonial arches made of palm fronds and banana leaves. The elderly sovereign arrived at the church in a vintage Humber Super Snipe coupe, a British-made car once owned by his grandmother, Queen Salote, who endeared herself to the British public during the Queen's coronation in 1953 by riding in an open carriage in the rain. At the end of the hour-long ceremony, the king was escorted by naval officers and courtiers down steps that had been covered in traditional mats. He was driven through the streets of Nuku'alofa as thousands of schoolchildren cheered along the route. Among those who attended the coronation was pro-democracy campaigner Samuela 'Akilisi Pohiva, who has repeatedly clashed with the monarchy over transparency and corruption, and has twice been jailed. He described the ceremony as "beautiful" and said that the sense of uncertainty among Tongans about the future had been erased. "We are very proud of His Majesty.

He was under pressure to change and he has," he said. "In fact, he has done more than we could have hoped for." Later there was a lunch at the royal palace for more than 1,000 guests, many of whom had dressed in top hats, tails and full-length gowns despite the tropical heat. In the evening there was a musical concert and a fireworks display. The festivities continue today with a military parade. Thousands Bid Farewell To King Of Tonga in Elaborate Traditional Funeral (Photos) By Sreeja VN On 03/27/12 AT 6:29 AM King George Tupou V of Tonga was buried in an elaborate traditional ceremony on Tuesday. The King, 63, died suddenly on March 18, in a Hong Kong hospital. Thousands gathered to bid farewell to the king at the burial ceremony held in the Tongan capital Nuku'alofa. The funeral ceremony followed the Polynesian-Tongan rituals and the Wesleyan Christian tradition of hymns, bible readings, prayers and eulogies, according to the Reuters report.

The ceremony was marked by a 21-gun salute, and the king's coffin was carried on a giant, black-and-gold-topped catafalque by 150 pallbearers dressed in black and traditional woven ta'ovala mats, Reuters reported. Thousands of Tongans lined up the streets, swathed in mourning colors of purple and black, to watch the funeral procession conducted with state honors. Hundreds of children also joined the crowds in their school uniform and black armbands. King Tupou's body was flown to Tonga by a chartered plane on Monday. He was well-known for his eccentric lifestyle and had huge fascination for elaborate military uniforms and top hats. The cause of his death has not been officially announced yet, but he had undergone surgery for cancer last year. King Tupou, the bachelor king, was known as a visionary and was responsible for bringing in democracy in a country of 100,000 people. He inherited the crown after his father's death in 2006 and his reign lasted for six years. The Oxford-educated Tupou renounced all important powers to a democratically elected government soon after he ascended the throne, following violent protests and riots demanding democracy.

Tupou V's younger brother Crown Prince Tupou VI will be the new king of Tonga. A traditional Kava ceremony, in which he will be designated as the Monarch, will be held on Saturday, followed by a coronation ceremony to be held at a time chosen by him later, Sky News reported. Tonga consists of 170 islands in the South Pacific and has a history of 1000 years. King of Tonga, George Tupou V, died on Sunday in Hong Kong at the age of 63. The Tongan government confirmed the death with the media but did not reveal a cause. REUTERS/Peter Halmagy Prince Masahito Hitachi (C) of Japan and his wife Princess Hanako Hitachi (C-L) arrive at the funeral of King George Tupou V in Tonga's capital Nuku'alofa March 27, 2012. King George Tupou V of Tonga, who ushered in democracy to the South Pacific archipelago, was buried in a ceremony that mixed traditional Polynesian ritual with Christian hymn singing on Tuesday.

REUTERS/Matangi Tonga/Pesi Fon Tonga's King George Tupou V leaves the Free Wesleyan Centenary Church after his coronation in the nation's capital city Nuku'alofa August 1, 2008. Amid pealing bells, booming cannons, balloons and cheering children, Tonga crowned its new king on Friday. King George Tupou V became the small South Pacific nation's 23rd monarch in a British-styled church ceremony, before a congregation of 1,000 that included Tongan, British, Japanese and Thai royalty, as well as South Pacific chiefs and heads of state. REUTERS/Peter Halmagy A coffin carrying Tonga's King George Tupou V is carried on a giant black and gold-topped catafalque by 150 pallbearers to the Royal Tombs in Tonga's capital Nuku'alofa March 27, 2012. Tonga's King, 63, who ushered in democracy to the South Pacific archipelago, was buried in a ceremony that mixed traditional Polynesian ritual with Christian hymn singing on Tuesday.

He died suddenly in Hong Kong on March 18 and had lain in state for just a day after being flown back in a chartered plane on Monday. REUTERS/Matangi Tonga/Peter Po Tonga's King Tupou V leaves the Free Wesleyan Centenary Church after his coronation in the nation's capital city Nuku'alofa August 1, 2008. Amid pealing bells, booming cannons, balloons and cheering children, Tonga crowned its new king on Friday. King George Tupou V became the small South Pacific nation's 23rd monarch in a British-styled church ceremony, before a congregation of 1,000 that included Tongan, British, Japanese and Thai royalty, as well as South Pacific chiefs and heads of state. REUTERS/Linny Folau Archbishop of Polynesia Jabez Bryce crowns Tonga's King George Tupou V in the nation's capital city Nuku'alofa August 1, 2008. Amid pealing bells, booming cannons, balloons and cheering children, Tonga crowned its new king on Friday.

King George Tupou V became the small South Pacific nation's 23rd monarch in a British-styled church ceremony, before a congregation of 1,000 that included Tongan, British, Japanese and Thai royalty, as well as South Pacific chiefs and heads of state. REUTERS/Peter Halmagy

Question: George Tupou V was crowned monarch of which country in August 2008?
Answer: Tonga