Tupou VI
{{Short description|King of Tonga since 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name = Tupou VI
| image = Dinner for His Majesty King Tupou VI of the Kingdom of Tonga and Her Majesty Queen Nanasipau’u 04.jpg
| caption = Tupou VI in 2019
| succession = King of Tonga
| reign = 18 March 2012 – present
| predecessor = George Tupou V
| suc-type = Heir apparent
| successor = Tupoutoʻa ʻUlukalala
| reg-type = {{nowrap|Prime Ministers}}
| regent = {{Collapsible list|title=See list|3=Sialeʻataongo Tuʻivakanō
ʻAkilisi Pōhiva
Semisi Sika (Acting)
Pohiva Tuʻiʻonetoa
Siaosi Sovaleni
Samiu Vaipulu (Acting)
ʻAisake Eke
}}
| succession1 = 13th Prime Minister of Tonga
| reg-type1 = Monarch
| regent1 = Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV
| reign1 = 3 January 2000 – 11 February 2006
| reign-type1 = Term
| predecessor1 = Baron Vaea
| successor1 = Feleti Sevele
| spouse = {{marriage|Nanasipauʻu Vaea|1982|}}
| issue = Princess Lātūfuipeka Tukuʻaho
Crown Prince Tupoutoʻa ʻUlukalala
Prince Ata
| full name = ʻAhoʻeitu ʻUnuakiʻotonga Tukuʻaho
| house = Tupou dynasty
| father = Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV
| mother = Halaevalu Mataʻaho ʻAhomeʻe
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1959|7|12|df=y}}
| birth_place = Nukuʻalofa, Kingdom of Tonga
| religion = Free Wesleyan Church
| module = {{infobox person | embed=yes
| alma_mater = University of East Anglia
University of New South Wales
Bond University
|signature=His Majesty King Tupou VI (signature).svg
}}
}}
Tupou VI (ʻAho‘eitu ʻUnuakiʻotonga Tukuʻaho; born 12 July 1959) is King of Tonga.
The youngest child of King Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV, he served as Prime Minister of Tonga from 2000 to 2006. Following his elder brother's accession to the Tongan throne as George Tupou V, he was officially confirmed as the heir presumptive on 27 September 2006, because his brother had no legitimate children. In 2008, he was appointed Tonga's High Commissioner to Australia, and resided in Canberra until the death of George Tupou V on 18 March 2012, when he became King of Tonga, with the regnal name Tupou VI. He was crowned in 2015 by the Reverend D'Arcy Wood.
Early life and education
ʻAhoʻeitu was born in Nukuʻalofa, Tonga on 12 July 1959, as the third son and youngest child of Crown Prince Tupoutoʻa Tungī (later King Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV) and Crown Princess Halaevalu Mataʻaho (later Queen Halaevalu Mataʻaho).{{Cite web |last=Khalid |first=Usama |date=2022-07-04 |title=Kingdom of Tonga celebrates Birthday of King Tupou VI |url=https://thediplomaticinsight.com/kingdom-of-tonga-celebrates-birthday-of-king-tupou-vi/ |access-date=2025-01-16 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Mohsin |first=Haroon |date=2022-06-09 |title=Official Birthday of HM King Tupou |url=https://nationaltoday.com/official-birthday-of-hm-king-tupou/ |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=National Today |language=en-US}} He attended The Leys School in Cambridge from 1973 to 1977,{{cite web |title=King of Tonga, an Old Leysian, hosts royal tour |url=https://www.theleys.net/media/news/article/335/King-of-Tonga-an-Old-Leysian-hosts-Royal-Tour |access-date=8 August 2021 |website=The Leys School}} followed by enrolment at the University of East Anglia, where he studied Development Studies between 1977 and 1980.{{cite news |date=25 September 2014 |title=One in seven countries has leader who studied in UK |publisher=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-29361704 |access-date=26 September 2014}}
Military career
ʻAhoʻeitu joined the naval arm of the Tonga Defence Services in 1982, achieving the rank of Lieutenant-Commander by 1987. He graduated from the US Naval War College as part of Class 33 in 1988.{{Cite web |title=The Monarch |url=https://www.consulatekot.eu/the-monarch |access-date=14 December 2022 |website=Consulate of the Kingdom of Tonga}}
His military service included commanding the Pacific-class patrol boat VOEA Pangai from 1990 to 1995, during which he participated in peacekeeping operations in Bougainville. Then, he obtained a master's degree in defence studies from the University of New South Wales in 1997 and another master's degree in international relations from Bond University in 1999.
Governmental career
In 1998, ʻAhoʻeitu transitioned from his military career to government service, assuming dual roles as defence minister and foreign minister until August 2004.{{Cite web |date=2004-09-14 |title=Tonga's king appoints new defence minister |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/150671/tonga's-king-appoints-new-defence-minister |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=RNZ |language=en-nz}} These roles were previously held by his elder brother Tupoutoʻa, who was then the crown prince and later became King Siaosi Tupou V.{{Citation |title=Tupou VI, HRH King 'Aho'eitu |work=International Year Book and Statesmen's Who's Who |url=https://referenceworks.brillonline.com/entries/international-year-book-and-statesmens-who-s-who/tupou-vi-hrh-king-ahoeitu-SIM_person_52411?s.num=95&s.rows=100&s.start=80 |access-date=1 January 2024 |publisher=Brill |language=en}}
Prime Minister of Tonga
ʻAhoʻeitu, then known as Prince ʻUlukālala Lavaka Ata, assumed the role of prime minister on 3 January 2000.
In 2004, several Members of Parliament (MPs) advocated for his resignation as prime minister following their decision to boycott the inauguration of the Tonga Legislative Assembly.{{Cite web |date=26 May 2004 |title=MPs call for resignation of Tongan Prime Minister |url=https://matangitonga.to/2004/05/27/mps-call-resignation-tongan-prime-minister |access-date=26 January 2024 |website=Matangi Tonga |language=en}} Among the MPs was Feleti Sevele, who cited the closure of Royal Tongan Airlines as one of several adverse events associated with the prime minister's tenure. Sevele questioned the prime minister's ability to govern Tonga, asserting that an inability to manage an airline raised doubts about his capacity to govern the country effectively.{{Cite web |date=28 May 2004 |title=Call on Tongan prime minister to step down |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/148863/call-on-tongan-prime-minister-to-step-down |access-date=1 June 2024 |website=RNZ |language=en-nz}}
ʻAhoʻeitu resigned as prime minister on 11 February 2006.{{Cite web |date=15 February 2006 |title=Tonga's Prime Minister resigns |url=https://matangitonga.to/2006/02/15/tongas-prime-minister-resigns |access-date=1 June 2024 |website=Matangi Tonga |language=en}} His departure coincided with a period of heightened civil unrest, as pro-democracy protests advocating for a reduced governmental role of the royal family gained traction from mid-2005 onward.{{Cite news |date=13 February 2006 |title=Tonga gets first elected leader |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4708474.stm |access-date=20 November 2023 |language=en-GB}} The Nukuʻalofa riots later that year underscored a growing dissatisfaction with the existing political structure, calls for increased political representation and a more equal distribution of power.
Diplomatic career
ʻAhoʻeitu took on the position of the chief of mission for Tonga's High Commission in Canberra when it was inaugurated in 2008, a position he held until his succession to the Tongan throne in 2012. This move represented a notable development in Tonga's diplomatic relations with Australia, highlighting the establishment of a formal diplomatic presence.{{cite web |date=16 August 2008 |title=HRH The Crown Prince Tupouto'a Lavaka: Tonga's First High Commissioner to Australia |url=http://www.pmo.gov.to/international-relations/credentials-presentations/2821-hrh-the-crown-prince-tupoutua-lavaka-tongas-first-high-commissioner-to-australia |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111130050612/http://pmo.gov.to/international-relations/credentials-presentations/2821-hrh-the-crown-prince-tupoutua-lavaka-tongas-first-high-commissioner-to-australia |archive-date=30 November 2011 |access-date=20 March 2012 |publisher=Tonga Government Portal}}
Concurrently, he served as a non-resident Ambassador to Japan from 15 January 2010 until his accession in 2012.{{Cite web |date=26 January 2010 |title=Tonga's Crown Prince New Ambassador to Japan |url=http://www.pireport.org/articles/2010/01/26/tonga%C3%A2%C2%80%C2%99s-crown-prince-new-ambassador-japan |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211111180017/http://www.pireport.org/articles/2010/01/26/tonga%C3%A2%C2%80%C2%99s-crown-prince-new-ambassador-japan |archive-date=11 November 2021 |access-date=11 December 2021 |website=Pacific Islands Report}}{{Cite web |last=Portugal |first=Consulate |date=22 June 2021 |title=Constitutional Monarchy - Consulate General of the Kingdom of Tonga in Portugal |url=https://tonga-gov.pt/en/the-monarch/ |access-date=13 July 2024 |language=en-US}}
Reign
ʻAhoʻeitu became the King of Tonga on the death of his elder brother, George Tupou V, on 18 March 2012. In his capacity as Tonga's head of state, he was installed as 20th Chancellor of the University of the South Pacific (USP) for a term of one year during the USP Tonga Graduation ceremony in July 2013.{{Cite web |date=26 July 2013 |title=King Tupou VI 20th Chancellor of University of the South Pacific |url=https://matangitonga.to/2013/07/26/king-tupou-vi-20th-chancellor-university-south-pacific |access-date=1 June 2024 |website=Matangi Tonga |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Chancellor |url=https://www.usp.ac.fj/usp-governance-council-senate-secretariat/chancellor/ |access-date=13 July 2024 |website=USP Governance - Council and Senate Secretariat (CSS) |language=en-US}}
= Coronation =
File:Kingtupou.jpg on 4 July 2015]]
King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipau’u were crowned in a ceremony conducted at Centenary Church in Nukuʻalofa on 4 July 2015 by the Reverend D'Arcy Wood, a retired Uniting Church in Australia minister who was born in Tonga. He was assisted by the Reverend 'Ahio and the Reverend Tevita Havea, the president and the secretary general of the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga.{{cite news |last1=Fonua |first1=Pesi |last2=Folau |first2=Linny |date=4 July 2015 |title=HM King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipau'u crowned at Centenary Church |url=http://matangitonga.to/2015/07/04/hm-king-tupou-vi-and-queen-nanasipau-u-crowned-centenary-church |access-date=4 July 2015 |work=Matangi Tonga |publisher=Vava'u Press}} About 15,000 guests attended the celebration.{{cite web |date=4 July 2015 |title=Tonga crowns King Tupou VI in lavish public coronation, parties |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-07-04/tonga-formally-crowns-king-tupou-vi-in-lavish-coronation/6595288 |access-date=21 February 2023 |publisher=ABC News}}
During the ceremony, Tupou VI was anointed with holy oil, adorned with a ring, and presented with a sceptre. The crown was then placed on his head by Wood, who performed the anointing and crowning as a matter of circumventing the taboo on native Tongans touching the King's head.{{cite news |last=Fox |first=Liam |date=4 July 2015 |title=Tonga crowns King Tupou VI in lavish public coronation, parties |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-07-04/tonga-formally-crowns-king-tupou-vi-in-lavish-coronation/6595288 |access-date=4 July 2015 |publisher=ABC News |location=Nukuʻalofa}} The celebrations ran for a total of eleven days, beginning a week before the ceremony.
= Dismissal of government =
On 25 August 2017, Tupou VI dismissed Prime Minister ʻAkilisi Pōhiva, dissolved the Legislative Assembly, and ordered early elections to be held by mid-November. Following the king's dissolution of the government, the speaker, Lord Tuʻivakanō, issued a statement explaining his advice to the King that led him to dismiss the Prime Minister. Lord Tuʻivakanō stated that Pōhiva had made unconstitutional moves, including signing international agreements without the King's consent.{{Cite web |last=Wyeth |first=Grant |title=King of Tonga Dismisses Prime Minister Pohiva's Government |url=https://thediplomat.com/2017/08/king-of-tonga-dismisses-prime-minister-pohivas-government/ |access-date=20 November 2023 |website=thediplomat.com |language=en-US}} Pōhiva was reelected soon after in November.{{Cite web |date=2017-12-18 |title=Pohiva retains Tonga prime ministership |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/346473/pohiva-retains-tonga-prime-ministership |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=RNZ |language=en-nz}}
= Hunga Tonga–Hunga Haʻapai eruption and tsunami =
On 15 January 2022, the King was temporarily relocated from the Royal Palace following the eruption of Hunga Tonga–Hunga Haʻapai and the ensuing tsunami.{{Cite web |last=Fontaine |first=Nicolas |date=2022-01-15 |title=Le roi Tupou VI des Tonga évacué du Palais royal après l'éruption du volcan et l'alerte tsunami |url=https://histoiresroyales.fr/le-roi-tupou-vi-des-tonga-evacue-du-palais-royal-apres-leruption-du-volcan-et-lalerte-tsnumai/ |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=Histoires Royales |language=fr-FR}} After this, he called for unity and vowed to rebuild.{{Cite web |title=Tonga's King calls for unity as he vows to rebuild amid ash |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/south-pacific/300506593/tongas-king-calls-for-unity-as-he-vows-to-rebuild-amid-ash |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=www.stuff.co.nz}}
= Loss of confidence in ministers =
On 2 February 2024, Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni was absent from Tonga, receiving medical treatment in New Zealand. During this time, King Tupou VI purportedly revoked the appointment of Siaosi Sovaleni as the armed forces minister and Fekitamoeloa ʻUtoikamanu as the minister of foreign affairs and tourism,{{cite web |date=6 February 2024 |title=Tonga's King Tupou VI loses confidence in PM Hu'akavameiliku |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/508471/tonga-s-king-tupou-vi-loses-confidence-in-pm-hu-akavameiliku |access-date=6 February 2024 |publisher=RNZ}}{{cite web |date=5 February 2024 |title=King has no confidence in two ministers |url=https://matangitonga.to/2024/02/05/king-tupouVI-has-no-confidence-two-ministers |access-date=6 February 2024 |publisher=Matangi Tonga}} with the nine noble MPs{{Efn|There are 9 MPs elected by the 33 hereditary nobles of Tonga.}} urging them to resign from their ministerial positions.{{Cite web |date=2 March 2024 |title=Nobles demand Tonga PM to respect King's decision - 'I love my King', Hu'akavameiliku says |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/510660/nobles-demand-tonga-pm-to-respect-king-s-decision-i-love-my-king-hu-akavameiliku-says |access-date=1 June 2024 |website=RNZ |language=en-nz}} The Attorney General of Tonga, Linda Folaumoetu'i, advised the Cabinet that the King's action was unconstitutional.{{cite web |date=6 February 2024 |title=Cabinet refutes King's orders, claiming it goes against Constitution |url=https://matangitonga.to/2024/02/06/cabinet-refutes-kings-orders-as-unconstitutional |access-date=6 February 2024 |publisher=Matangi Tonga}}{{cite web |date=6 February 2024 |title=Tonga Prime Minister has final call on ministers, not the King - former attorney-general |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/508513/tonga-prime-minister-has-final-call-on-ministers-not-the-king-former-attorney-general |access-date=6 February 2024 |publisher=RNZ}}
In response to the revocation of their appointments, Sovaleni and ʻUtoikamanu publicly announced their resignation from their respective ministerial positions in April 2024.{{Cite web |title=Tonga ministers quit amid standoff with powerful monarch |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/4/4/tonga-ministers-quit-amid-standoff-with-powerful-monarch |access-date=17 May 2024 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}}
Marriage and family
{{Tongan Royal Family}}
ʻAhoʻeitu is married to Nanasipauʻu Tukuʻaho, daughter of Baron Vaea.{{cite web |title=Royal Family Members |url=https://www.royalpalace.to/royal_history.php?section=members |access-date=21 February 2023 |publisher=Tongan Royal Palace}} They have three children and four grandchildren.{{Cite web |date=9 May 2013 |title=New Tongan heir, Prince Taufa'ahau Manumataongo born May 10 in Auckland |url=https://matangitonga.to/2013/05/10/new-tongan-heir-prince-taufaahau-manumataongo-born-may-10-auckland |access-date=24 September 2023 |website=Matangi Tonga |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=14 July 2014 |title=Tonga's new Princess Halaevalu Mata'aho |url=https://matangitonga.to/2014/07/14/tongas-new-princess-halaevalu-mataaho |access-date=24 September 2023 |website=Matangi Tonga |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=20 March 2018 |title=New Princess born – HRH Princess Nanasipau'u |url=https://matangitonga.to/2018/03/21/new-princess-born-hrh-princess-nanasipau-u |access-date=24 September 2023 |website=Matangi Tonga |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=26 February 2021 |title=Princess Salote Mafile'o Pilolevu – Tonga's new baby Princess |url=https://matangitonga.to/2021/02/26/princess-salote-new-baby |access-date=24 September 2023 |website=Matangi Tonga |language=en}} Their eldest child, Princess Lātūfuipeka Tukuʻaho (Angelika Lātūfuipeka Halaevalu Mataʻaho Napua-o-kalani Tukuʻaho), born on 17 November 1983, has been the High Commissioner to Australia since 22 August 2012.{{Cite web |date=26 August 2012 |title=Princess Latufuipeka appointed Tonga's High Commissioner to Australia |url=http://www.pmo.gov.to/news-today/royalty/3992-princess-latufuipeka-appointed-tongas-high-commissioner-to-australia |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120826203518/http://www.pmo.gov.to/news-today/royalty/3992-princess-latufuipeka-appointed-tongas-high-commissioner-to-australia |archive-date=26 August 2012 |access-date=24 September 2023 |publisher=Tonga Government Portal}}
Their second child, Crown Prince Tupoutoʻa ʻUlukalala (Siaosi Manumataongo ʻAlaivahamamaʻo ʻAhoʻeitu Konstantin Tukuʻaho), born on 17 September 1985, married his second cousin, Sinaitakala Fakafanua, on 12 July 2012.{{cite web |last=Pearlman |first=Jonathan |date=12 July 2012 |title=Tongan crown prince marries second cousin |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/tongafrenchpolynesia/9394358/Tongan-crown-prince-marries-second-cousin.html |access-date=14 December 2022 |work=The Telegraph}} They have four children: Prince Taufaʻahau Manumataongo (born 10 May 2013), Princess Halaevalu Mataʻaho (born 12 July 2015), Princess Nanasipauʻu (born 20 March 2018), and Princess Salote Mafile’o Pilolevu (born 25 February 2021).
Their third child is Prince Ata (Viliami ʻUnuaki-ʻo-Tonga Mumui Lalaka-Mo-e-ʻEiki Tukuʻaho), born on 27 April 1988.
Upon his confirmation as heir presumptive, he acquired the noble title of Tupoutoʻa, traditionally reserved for crown princes, a position his older brother relinquished due to marrying a commoner, and was subsequently known as Tupoutoʻa Lavaka before ascending the throne. His other noble titles of ʻUlukālala of Fangatongo and ʻAta of Hihifo subsequently passed to each of his two sons.{{Cite web |date=27 September 2006 |title=Tupouto'a Lavaka, Tonga's new Crown Prince |url=http://www.matangitonga.to/article/tonganews/royalty/tupoutoa_lavaka270906.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061103043418/http://www.matangitonga.to/article/tonganews/royalty/tupoutoa_lavaka270906.shtml |archive-date=3 November 2006 |access-date=30 November 2023 |website=Matangi Tonga}}
Family tree
{{Tupou family tree}}
See also
Footnotes
{{Notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Tupou VI of Tonga}}
- {{IMDb name|id=1761179|name=Prince Ulukalala Lavaka Ata}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20050325083447/http://www.pmo.gov.to/index.php/articles/c_32/ Government Biography]
{{s-start}}
{{s-hou|House of Tupou|12 July|1959||}}
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=Baron Vaea
{{small|Acting}}}}
{{s-ttl|title=Minister of Foreign Affairs|years=1998–2004}}
{{s-aft|after={{nowrap|Sonatane Tuʻa Taumoepeau-Tupou}}}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=Vaea}}
{{s-ttl|title=Prime Minister of Tonga|years=2000–2006}}
{{s-aft|after=Feleti Sevele}}
|-
{{s-dip}}
{{s-new|office|rows=2}}
{{s-ttl|title=High Commissioner to Australia|years=2008–2012}}
{{s-aft|after=Lātūfuipeka Tukuʻaho}}
|-
{{s-ttl|title=Ambassador of Tonga to Japan|years=2010–2012}}
{{s-aft|after=Tania Laumanulupe Tupou}}
|-
{{s-reg}}
{{s-bef|before=George Tupou V}}
{{s-ttl|title=King of Tonga|years=2012–present}}
{{s-inc|heir=Tupoutoʻa ʻUlukalala|heir-type=Heir apparent}}
{{s-end}}
{{Current sovereigns}}
{{Monarchs of Tonga}}
{{Crown Princes of Tonga}}
{{Prime ministers of Tonga}}
{{Foreign Ministers of Tonga}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tupou 06}}
Category:Alumni of the University of East Anglia
Category:Bond University alumni
Category:Government ministers of Tonga
Category:High commissioners of Tonga to Australia
Category:Ambassadors of Tonga to Japan
Category:People educated at The Leys School
Category:Prime ministers of Tonga
Category:University of New South Wales alumni
Category:People from Nukuʻalofa
Category:Ministers of foreign affairs of Tonga
Category:Children of prime ministers of Tonga
Category:Tongan military personnel