“Tonga soldiers fought and died along British allies in the First and Second World War, and Tonga has been a proud member of the Commonwealth family of nations” – HE Hon Titilupe Fanetupouvava’u Tu’ivakano
The royal families of Tonga and the United Kingdom have had a longstanding and respected relationship.
The late Queen Salote won the hearts of the British people in 1953 when she rode in an open carriage in the pouring rain attending the late Queen Elizabeth II coronation.
Since 2018 the late Queen’s great granddaughter, Her Excellency Hon Titilupe Fanetupouvava’u Tu’ivakano, has been serving as the High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.
Her Excellency is the 9th High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and follows in her father Lord Siosa’ia Ma’ulupekotofa Tuita’s footsteps.
“My father, Lord Tuita was the Tonga High Commissioner to the Court of Saint James from 1989 to 1992,” she says.
“He was present when Tonga ratified the fourth ACP EEC convention in 1985, which was known as the Lome Full in 1991 and that was the fourth development and trade agreement between the European Economic Community or the EEC, and 69 African, Caribbean and Pacific states.
“He was also the first UN High Commissioner to accompany His Majesty the late King Tupou IV during his royal visit to Potsdam, which is the former East Germany.
“So, it is a great honour to follow in his footsteps and continue our family service to Tonga. I feel both proud and deeply aware of the responsibility to uphold the values that he represented.”
Her Excellency also credits her mother, Her Royal Highness Salote Mafile’o Pilolevu, the Princess Royal for her guidance and support.
“We’re very proud to have learned from Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal. Both culturally and professionally. And she has inspired us in many ways, she continues to inspire us just as she does the rest of the country and the rest of our family as a whole.”
Diplomatic relations were formalised in 1970, the relationship with the United Kingdom has expanded to include European countries.
“So essentially, my role covers representing Tonga’s interest in the United Kingdom and accredited states, strengthening diplomatic ties and supporting our citizens abroad. It also includes promoting trade, culture and cooperation between our two countries.”
Her Excellency highlights the importance of having a presence in the United Kingdom as well as the historical links between the two countries.
“Notably, the Kingdom of Tonga is the only island in the South Pacific which has never been colonised outright by a foreign power. We did become a British protectorate from 1900 to 1970, but our traditional Chifley and kingship lines date back hundreds of years,” she says.
“Today we are a constitutional monarchy, just like Great Britain. Tonga and the United Kingdom have also enjoyed many years of friendly relations.
“Tonga soldiers fought and died along British allies in the First and Second World War, and Tonga has been a proud member of the Commonwealth family of nations, which is headed by His Majesty King Charles III.”
At the same time the Tongan diaspora in the United Kingdom is growing with communities in London, north of England and Wales.
“I really do appreciate our Tongan community here in the United Kingdom and in Europe because we’ve grown ever so close, despite the fact that we have three major communities in the United Kingdom and also in Europe,” she says.
