The several dozen foreign dignitaries who have travelled to Tonga for the funeral of King Taufa Ahau Tupou 4th will this morning privately pay their respects at the royal palace.
They include the Crown Prince of Japan, Prince Haruhito, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, and the Maori King, Tuheitia Paki.
As well, there are several governors general, the prime ministers of New Zealand and Fiji, the premier of Niue, American Samoa's Congressman and the president of Vanuatu.
The funeral service is this afternoon but our correspondent Mateni Tapueluelu says the morning has been set aside for the dignitaries to farewell the King.
"That would be at the royal palace where he has been lying in state over the past six days. After that the foreign dignitaries will take their seats at the royal tomb - that is about half a mile from the palace and the procession of the funeral to the royal tomb will involve about a thousand men carrying the body of His Majesty."
