21 Jul 2006

Royal funeral and internment in Tonga today

9:57 am on 21 July 2006

The funeral will be held in Tonga today of the late Prince Tu'ipelehake and his wife, Princess Kaimana Tuku'aho, who died in a road accident in the US two weeks ago.

The funeral service will be held at the Free Wesleyan Centenary Church .

The funeral procession will then go to the Catholic Loma Cemetery at Lapaha.

Prince 'Aho'eitu Tuku'aho will lead the bearer party.

Regional dignitaries, including Fiji's vice-president, are in Nuku'alofa to pay their last respects.

The King of Tonga, however, will be absent, reportedly because of poor health.