Halaevalu Mata’aho, Queen Mother of Tonga – Picture by Tongan Monarchy.
2 March 2017, Kingdom of Tonga: The late Queen Mother of Tonga, Halaevalu Mata’aho (29 May 1926 – 19 February 2017) was buried in Tonga after her sudden demise aged 90 during a medical checkup in New Zealand.
Halaevalu Mata’aho was married to King Taufa’ahau Tupou IV, with whom she had four children, and served for 41 years as Queen consort. After her husband died in 2006, she took on the tile of “Queen Mother” when her eldest son, Siaosi (George) Tupou V, was crowned king. King Siaosi Tupou V also passed away during a medical checkup in Hong Kong in 2012.
By age 90, Queen Halaevalu Mata’aho had outlived two kings and witnessed the crowning of a third, her youngest son King Tupou VI.
The official mourning period was reduced to 10 days by the Royal House, albeit formally the Royal Family mourns for 100 days. During that time Tongans wore black and many businesses remained closed. There was a kava ceremony to honour the late Queen Mother, and the mourning period was rounded up with the traditional laying of black pebble stones on the Queen Mother’s tomb.
For further information:
Tongan High Commission (Mission to the EU, Israel, Russia, the Benelux countries, etc., HE Ambassador Sonata Tupou): http://tongahighcommission.com/about/
