The gates at the Tufumāhina royal residence have been open to the public as gifts were brought in and presented to Her Majesty Queen Halaevalu Mataʻaho, the Queen Mother of Tonga.
Born as Halaevalu Mataʻaho ʻAhomeʻe on May 29, 1926 she is the oldest daughter of Lord ‘Ahomeʻe known as Manu-‘o-Pangai and his wife Lady Heuʻifanga, a great granddaughter of the last King of the Tuʻi Tonga line.
Her Majesty’s immediate family from both her paternal and maternal sides visited and met her since last week to show their appreciation on her 90th birthday.
They presented Tongan goods such as precious mats, ngatu, food and pigs.
Some presentations were followed by prayers and entertainments.
This is the cultural practice of fatongia and has been mainly performed by those who are linked to the Queen Mother in blood, responsibilities and friendship.
Her Majesty married her husband, the late king Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV on June 10, 1947. Taufa’āhau Tupou IV died in 2006.
They have four children. The Late King George V, Princess Salote Mafile’o Pilolevu Tuita, Late Lord Maʻatu and King Tupou VI.
Her Majesty Queen Halaevalu Mataʻaho became the Queen of Tonga from 1965 – 2006 and since 2006 she was the Queen Mother of the kingdom.
