Tonga's capital was literally swathed in mourning cloth today as thousands of loyal subjects and foreign dignitaries farewelled the nation's beloved king.
Tonga came to a standstill as it buried King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV in an elaborate state funeral that mixed tribal traditions with Christian prayers, and royal pomp with village-style feasts.
Led by his son and successor, King Siaosi Tupou V, dignitaries from 30 nations laid wreaths and joined an estimated 10,000 people in a Wesleyan Christian funeral service at the Tongan royal tombs, Mala'e Kula.
The late king's coffin was borne to the royal burial grounds by 1,000 pallbearers in a kilometre-long procession from the royal palace.
Thousands of mourners, all dressed in black and with traditional mourning mats wrapped round their waists, sat silently as the procession passed.
The capital, Nuku'alofa, was itself wrapped from one end to the other in black and purple.
At the burial site, 40 men assigned as undertakers lay the king in the royal tomb.
