27 Dec 2005

Samoan member of Tongan royal family leaves residence

6:30 pm on 27 December 2005

It's emerged a Samoan member of the Tongan royal family, Lady Alaileula Tuku, has gone to live in Samoa.

The news website Matangi Tonga reports Lady Alaileula left Tonga for Apia last Tuesday.

Lady Alaileula continued to live at the family's Royal Residence, Kauvai, after the death of her husband, the King's second son, Lord Ma'atu, in February last year.

Matangi Tonga reports sources as saying that the Prime Minister, Prince 'Ulukalala Lavaka Ata, had told Lady Alaileula he was going to take her to court for authorising the killing of a cow owned by the King.

The incident is said to have happened last Monday, when Prince Lavaka became Prince Regent, after the King left Tonga to go to New Zealand for medical attention.