Guests at Tonga Coronation

Royal Guests and Heads of State/Government

Guests to His Majesty's Coronation will include the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester (United Kingdom), the Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Japan., Princess Sirinhorn of the Kingdom of Thailand.

A  number of royalties are yet to confirm including Prince Albert of Monaco.  Within the Pacific Group of Islands, there are royal lineages which are recognised by the indigenous people of these islands,.

These royalty will be represented at the Coronation and include the Maori King, Hawaiin Princess, Samoan Royalty, Fijian Royalty and Nobility.

All Pacific Heads of States and Heads of Government (16 countries in total) will also be represented at the Coronation.

Countries accredited to the Kingdom of Tonga are expected to be represented by their ambassadors who are based in either Canberra (Australia), Wellington (New Zealand), Suva (Fiji) or in Tonga.  The former State Secretary of Foreign Affairs for Italy is also being invited as he attended the Forum Meeting held in Tonga last October.

International Sports Celebrities

A Coronation Rugby Match will be held in the Kingdom of Tonga with international rugby stars from different countries and Tongan heritage internationally acclaimed players will get together to honour the Coronation of His Majesty.  Aaron Persico of Italy has confirmed that he will participate in the Coronation Match.  A list of other players can be provided if required.

International Music Celebrities

A focus on music concerts to celebrate the Coronation brings together a 70+ member orchestra (China National Song and Dance) from China who will accompany the Tongan 300-strong choir at the Coronation Ceremony at the Centenary Church on the 1st August 2008.  Soprano solos to Mozart's Exsultate Jubilate will be by Tongan soloists who are recognized internationally in their abilities.

A Ballet Performance (A Royal Invitation:  Homage to the Queen of Tonga), ballet that was created in honour of His Majesty's grandmother, Queen Salote.  This is the only classical work on Tonga in the body of American composition and choreograpy,  Royal Invitation was created in 1982 by Ken Ludden at the request of Pulitzer Prize winning American composer Dominick Argento, who wrote an orchestral piece of the same name.  The ballet opened at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, starring the legendary American ballerina Sallie Wilson.

Friends and Family of Tonga

Friends and Family of Tonga and His Majesty will also attend the Coronation from around the globe.  Groups of guests from New Zealand, Australia, Hawaii and the United States are expected to attend the Coronation Ceremonies and Celebrations and also participate in the traditional performances programmed for the Coronation.