King & Queen of Tonga in Europe Featured
HM Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburg with HM King Tupou IV and Queen Nanasipau'u of Tonga
Their Majesties The King and Queen of Tonga are in Europe to heed businesses concerning their upcoming coronation due to take place in July 2015. The Royal Couple of the “Friendly Islands” were received in audience by the British monarch, and her husband at Windsor Castle on 27 February.
The royals discussed bilateral relations as well as relations within the Commonwealth of Nations of which Tonga is a member. Queen Elizabeth II is the Commonwealth’s figurehead. Before their jaunt to London, King Tupou VI addressed delegates at the opening of the 38th Session of the Governing Council of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), on Monday 16 February, and later in the day had an audience with the Bishop of Rome, Franciscus in the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican City-State.
The reason behind the courtesy visit was the election of the very first cardinal from the Pacific archipelago, hailing from Tonga, Cardinal Soane Patita Paini Mafi. Thereby making him one of the élite cardinals entitle to vote for a successor of St. Petrus.
Source: Diplomat Magazine
