Sālote Tupou III

Marriage

In 1917, Sālote married Viliami Tungī Mailefihi, an adult noble then 30 years old, 13 years her senior. Her marriage had been a political masterstroke by her father, as Tungī was a direct descendant of the Tuʻi Haʻatakalaua. Their children, therefore, would combine the blood of the three grand royal dynasties in Tonga. At the age of 18, she became a mother for the first time. Her children were:

• King Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV, born Crown Prince Siaosi Tāufaʻāhau Tupoulahi (4 July 1918 – 10 September 2006);
• Prince Uiliami Tukuʻaho (5 November 1919 – 28 April 1936), who died young;
• Prince Sione Ngū Manumataongo, later the 5th Tuʻipelehake (Fatafehi) (7 January 1922 – 10 April 1999).

Three pregnancies ended in miscarriages (1920, 1923, and 1924).

Reign

Sālote was proclaimed Queen on 6 April 1918, following her father's death from tuberculosis the previous day.

In 1920–1921, she assisted the Bernice P. Bishop Museum's Bayard Dominick Expedition with their mapping of Tongan archaeological sites by providing access to localities and information. The expedition's reports on the Tongan past—including a large volume of material which still remains unpublished even today—were primarily compiled by Edward Winslow Gifford and provided the groundwork for comprehensive studies of the pre-contact history of the Tongans (Burley 1998). She was also a keen writer and author of dance songs and love poems, published in 2004, edited by her biographer, Elizabeth Wood-Ellem.

Sālote led Tonga through World War II, with the islands declaring war on Nazi Germany in 1940 and on the Empire of Japan in 1941 following its attack on Pearl Harbor. She put Tonga's resources at the disposal of Britain and supported the Allied cause throughout the war. Tongan troops saw battle against the Japanese in the Solomon Islands campaign, including on Guadalcanal.

A key advisor of hers from 1924 to 1946, was Australian missionary Rodger Page, who played a key role in the reunification of the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga, of which she was a member. Owing to his influence on Sālote, Page was described as a sort of power behind the throne by historian Sione Lātūkefu.

She brought Tonga to international attention when, during her sole visit to Europe, she attended the 1953 coronation of Elizabeth II in London. During the coronation procession, it began to rain and hoods were placed on the carriages in the procession. As Tongan etiquette dictates that one should not imitate the actions of persons one is honouring, she refused a hood and rode through the pouring rain in an open carriage with Sultan Ibrahim of Kelantan, endearing herself to spectators. She served as Chairman of the Tonga Traditions Committee from 1954 and patronised the Tonga Red Cross Society.

Many Tongans respected and approved of Sālote, seeing her as "tough, hard-working, just, ambitious". She was also described as very approachable, with her palace doors being open to all. This led to her being very knowledgeable not just of Tongan tradition (in which she was already well-versed prior to her marriage), but also of specific family histories, which are very important in Tongan culture. She would often assist and impress visiting anthropologists with her detailed knowledge of the culture.

Illness and death

Sālote had a somewhat troubled medical history. She suffered from diabetes, requiring frequent visits to Auckland for treatment. An operation had to be conducted in 1935 to treat her cancer. During tests in Auckland in 1965 a second bout of cancer was found. Despite this, the Queen returned to Tonga in May and even participated in a festival in July 1965 celebrating her record reign. Ten thousand children were allowed to enter the palace grounds and wave at the Queen as she sat on the verandah. This would be the last time the Tongan people saw their Queen.

Queen Sālote died in hospital in Auckland on 16 December 1965 at 12:15 am. Her body was flown back to Tonga by the Royal New Zealand Air Force. The funeral service took place on 23 December with fifty thousand people in attendance. Her body was placed next to her husband and her tomb was guarded for several nights, as per tradition.

Depictions in popular culture

Trinidadian-Venezuelan musician Edmundo Ros composed, recorded, and performed a calypso song titled "The Queen of Tonga" whose lyrics refer to Queen Sālote attending the coronation of Elizabeth II.

Family tree

Honours

• United Kingdom: Honorary Dame Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George
• United Kingdom: Honorary Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order
• United Kingdom: Honorary Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire
• United Kingdom: Honorary Dame Grand Cross of the Order of St John
• United Kingdom: Recipient of the King George V Silver Jubilee Medal
• United Kingdom: Recipient of the King George VI Coronation Medal
• United Kingdom: Recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal