Nuku’alofa, July 2015. Anthony Bailey, OBE officially visited the Kingdom of Tonga from 2 to 7 July 2015 and attended the state festivities marking the Coronation of Their Majesties King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipau’u of Tonga.
Anthony arrived at Fua’amotu Airport and were greeted on behalf of HM King Tupou VI by HRH Crown Princess Sinaitakala Fakafanua of Tonga and the Tongan Ministers of Commerce and Public Enterprises.
On 2 July 2015, Anthony attended the Welcome Luncheon hosted by the Nobles of the Realm in Pangai in Nuku’alofa where they met with HRH Princess Salote Mafile’o Pilolevu Tuita, Governor-General of Papua New Guinea HE Sir Michael Ogio and HE Lady Ogio.
On 3 July 2015, Anthony attended a private lunch hosted in their honour by TRH Crown Prince Tupouto’a ‘Ulukalala and & Crown Princess Sinaitakala Tuku’aho of Tonga at their residence in Nuku’alofa. The Governor of the National Reserve Bank of Tonga, HE Sione N Kioa and his wife Mrs Kioa Mo Afeaki were present.
Later in the evening, HRH Crown Prince Tupouto’a ‘Ulukalala hosted a Welcome Reception at the Fa’onelua Convention Centre in Nuku’alofa on the eve of the Coronation. During the event Anthony greeted Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs Lord Tu’ivakanō and a number of the fellow overseas guests including HIH Crown Prince Naurhito of Japan, the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, HE General The Hon Sir Peter Cosgrove and HE Lady Cosgrove, New Zealand’s Governor-General HE Lieutenant General Sir Jerry Mateparae and HE Lady Mateparae, the Governor-General of the Solomon Islands, HE Sir Frank Kabui and HE Lady Kabui, the Māori King Te Arikinui Kiingi Tuheitia, and the Head of the Austro-Hungarian Imperial Family HIRH Archduke Karl of Austria and HIRH Archduke Georg of Austria.
On 4 July 2015 Anthony attended the moving Coronation Service of HM King Tupou VI and HM Queen Nanasipau’u of Tonga at the Centenary Church, in the capital Nuku’alofa. Members of the Tongan Royal Family, including the Queen Mother, HM Queen Halaevalu Mata’aho, HRH The Princess Royal Salote Mafile’o Pilolevu Tuita, Prime Minister Hon ‘Akilisi Pohiva, Cabinet Ministers, Nobles of the Realm, and Heads of States, Members of Imperial and Royal Houses from across the countries and other dignitaries were present.
Following the Coronation Anthony attended a Luncheon at the Royal Palace in the Tongan capital in the presence of members of the Tongan Royal Family and hundreds of official guests from across the world. They met with HRH The Princess Royal, Princess Salote Mafile’o Pilolevu Tuita, HIH Crown Prince Naurhito Japan and HIH Crown Princess Masako of Japan, the President of the Republic of Fiji, HE Brigadier-General Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, the Governor-General of Australia, HE General The Hon Sir Peter Cosgrove and HE Lady Cosgrove, the President of Palau, HE Mr Tommy Remengesau, the President of the Republic of Nauru HE Baron Divavesi Waqa, the Governor-General of Tuvalu, HE Sir Iakoba Taeia Italeli, the Governor-General of Papua New Guinea, HE Sir Michael Ogio, the Governor-General of New Zealand, HE Lieutenant General Sir Jerry Mateparae and the Governor-General of the Solomon Islands, HE Sir Frank Kabui.
In the evening, at the invitation of the Lord Chamberlain on behalf of Their Majesties The King and Queen of Tonga, Anthony attended a Dinner held at the Masefield Naval Base in Nukua’lofa.
On 5 July 2015, Anthony was invited for breakfast on board the ship HMAS Leeuwin by the Australian High Commissioner HE Mr Brett Aldam and hosted by HE The Governor General of Australia.
After breakfast, Anthony attended a Coronation Sunday Service at the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga in the presence of TM King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipau’u of Tonga and other members of the Royal Family and foreign guests.
In the afternoon Anthony attended a Luncheon hosted by HRH Princess Angelika Latufuipeka Halaevalu Mata’ahoy in the Royal Tent at the Royal Vila in honour of the King and Queen of Tonga.
During this ocassion, Anthony had the opportunity to have conversations with HIH The Crown Prince of Japan, HE Baron Divavesi Waqa, President of the Republic of Nauru and HE Sir Iakoba Taeia Italeli, Governor General of Tuvalu and Lady Italeli.
Later the same day, Anthony were presented with the Tongan Coronation Medal of HM King Tupou VI.
Anthony attended a Coronation Military Parade held on 6 July 2015 at Pangai in Nuku’alofa hosted by The Hon Minister of Defence of Tonga, Lord Ma’afu.
Later, a lunch at Pangai II in Nuku’alofa was hosted by Prime Minister The Hon Samiuela ‘Akilisi Pohiva in honour of Their Majesties The King and Queen of Tonga where Anthony met with the Māori King, the Queen Mother of Tonga, Her Majesty Queen Halaevalu Mataʻaho ʻAhomeʻe, the General of the French Navy of the Pacific, a high representative of the Swiss President and Lord Glenarthur, a close friend of the Tongan Royal Family.
During the day, Anthony attended a Private farewell Audience with HM King Tupou VI and HM Queen Nanasipau’u of Tonga at the Royal Palace.
Anthony later visited the newly created Cardinal from Tonga, His Eminence Soane Patita Cardinal Mafi at his residence in Nuku’alofa before departing the following day from Tonga to Australia.
