The King of Tonga Passed Away

On the 18th of March 2012, His Majesty King George Tupou the fifth passed away at the Queen Mary hospital in Pokfulam, Hong Kong aged 63. His Majesty had been undergoing treatment for cancer and had recently had surgery to remove one of his kidneys following the discovery of a tumour. King George succeeded his father Tāufaʻāhau Tupou the fourth in 2006. In 2008 King George started a program of reforms in Tonga passing much of the royal prerogatives to a democratically elected Prime Minister and Parliament. King George was much loved by the people of Tonga and will be greatly missed. The Tongan throne has now passed to King George’s younger brother Crown Prince Tupouto’a Lavaka.