After a two-day visit to Fiji, the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh arrived in Tonga for a two day visit, where they were hosted by graciously Queen Salote and the Tongan Royal Family. Tonga, an independent Kingdom in the Pacific, is part of the Commonwealth and the only Pacific nation retaining it’s Monarchy.

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After sailing to Tonga on the Royal Liner ‘SS Gothic’, the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh were welcomed by Queen Salote, her sons and daughter-in-laws upon arrival in Nukuʻalofa. They met the British Resident and then the two Queens reviewed the Guard.

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Afterwards, Queen Salote hosted a traditional Tongan Feast for the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh, which was followed by traditional dances.

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On the second day, the two Queens attended a service at the Wesleyan church in Nuku’alofa and the royal couple saw a turtle which had been shown to Captain Cook on his visit to Tonga in the 1770s, before Queen Salote bid her guests farewell.