Queen Mother Halaevalu Mataʻaho has been buried in Malaʻekula royal tombs, following a memorial service at the Nukuʻalofa royal palace.
Her body was carried by about 100 men followed by the royal family and thousands of people who turned up to show their final respect to the beloved matriarch.
Students from Tonga College, Tupou College, Queen Salote College and ‘Api fo’ou College were assigned to line the route along Tu’i Road for the burial ceremony.
The funeral cortege drove from the airport, where her body had arrived in an RNZAF Hercules past schoolchildren who lined the road for 20 km in order to pay their respects.
The matriarch’s body was received at the Fu’amotu International Airport by Their Majesties King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipau’u Tuku’aho and members of the royalty.
As a mark of deep respect, people from all over the kingdom have worn traditional Tongan tauanga’a.
As Kaniva Tonga reported on Monday, students at Marcellin College requested that they be allowed to attend school in formal attire to show their devotion.
