Tongan Prince Formalises Engagement

  January 23, 2012 at 10:39 pm by

The son of Tonga’s Crown Prince, Prince ʻUlukālala, has formalised his engagement to Lady Sinaitakala Fakafanua, the daughter of Princess ‘Ofeina-‘e he-Langi Fakafanua and the late Lord Fakafanua.

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An engagement party took place on Friday, January 20th, at the Observatory Hotel in Sydney, Australia. It was attended by several members of the royal family, including both sets of parents, who witnessed Prince ʻUlukālala present his fiancé with an engagement ring.

Both Prince ʻUlukālala and Lady Sinaitakala are members of the royal family, descending from Queen Solate. The Tongan constitution requires members of the royal family to marry fellow royals (either Tongan or foreign) to retain their places within the line of succession (Prince ʻUlukālala is second in line, following his father).

The couple’s engagement, or ‘courtship’, was first announced in July last year, with the traditional Faitohi ritual held in Ma’ufanga.

Their wedding celebrations will take place in early May 2012:

  • On May 1st, the couple will register their marriage, ma’utohi, at the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga. This will be followed by a family celebration, fakalelea, at Siumafua’uta.
  • On May 4th, the royal wedding will take place at the Centennial Church, with a wedding feast held in the afternoon at Mala’e Pangai.
  • On May 6th, the newlyweds will mark their First Sunday at the Centennial Church, followed by a royal luncheon at Pangai.

 

Click here to read more about the royal family of Tonga.

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