The Royal Order of the Crown of Tonga ('' Tongan: Fakalangilangi 'o Kalauni 'o Tonga'') is an

Order of Merit The Order of Merit (french: link=no, Ordre du Mérite) is an order of merit for the Commonwealth realms, recognising distinguished service in the armed forces, science, art, literature, or for the promotion of culture. Established in 1902 by K ...

awarded for exceptional services to

Tonga Tonga (, ; ), officially the Kingdom of Tonga ( to, Puleʻanga Fakatuʻi ʻo Tonga), is a Polynesian country and archipelago. The country has 171 islands – of which 45 are inhabited. Its total surface area is about , scattered over in ...

and the

Crown of Tonga The Crown of Tonga was made in 1873 for George Tupou I at the behest of his prime minister, The Reverend Shirley Waldemar Baker. The crown was fashioned by the jewellery firm of Hardy Brothers of Sydney, Australia. The gold crown of Tonga is rep ...

History

It was established 16 April 1913 by

George Tupou II George Tupou II ( to, Siaosi Tupou II; 18 June 1874 – 5 April 1918) was the King of Tonga from 18 February 1893 until his death. He was officially crowned at Nukuʻalofa, on 17 March 1893. He was also the 20th Tuʻi Kanokupolu. Life Siao ...

to reward those who distinguished themselves by exceptional services to the State and the Crown. The Order was in four classes, and the insignia were designed and manufactured in Germany. The first awards were made in August 1914, to the King, Queen

ʻAnaseini Takipō 'Anaseini Takipō Afuha'amango (1 March 1893 – 26 November 1918) was the Queen consort of Tonga from 1909 to 1918. She was the second wife of George Tupou II. Her name was also often rendered as Ana Seini Takipo. Life ʻAnaseini Takipō Afuha' ...

and to F T Goedicke, the Chancellor of the Order. Shortly afterwards word arrived of the outbreak of the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

, and the king suspended further awards for the duration. The Order was forgotten with Tupou's death in 1918. It was reorganized on 31 July 2008 by King

George Tupou V George Tupou V ( Tongan: Siaosi Tupou, full name: Siaosi Tāufaʻāhau Manumataongo Tukuʻaho Tupou; 4 May 194818 March 2012) was the King of Tonga from the death of his father Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV in 2006 until his own death six years later. ...

, in particular relatively to all the classes of merit. It can be awarded to militaries and civilians, native of Tonga or foreigner, without distinction of religion.

Classes

The order is presented in four classes:John Duncan McMeekin's summary
/ref> * Knight Grand Cross with Collar - Collar, Star, Sash, Miniature & Ribbon bar *Knight/Dame Grand Cross - Star, Sash, Miniature & Ribbon bar *Knight/Dame Commander - Necklet, Miniature & Ribbon bar *Member - Breast Badge, Miniature & Ribbon bar

Insignia

The ''Sash'' for the two upper classes is a red moiré sash with a white stripe near each edge. Men's sash is 102mm wide (proportions : 2.5/14.5/68/14.5/2.5mm). Women's sash is 75mm wide (proportions : 1.5/10./51/10.5/1.5mm).

Knight Grand Cross

The ''Collar'' is a double gold chain, set with a 6-pointed white enamel gold edged star (centre-piece), with on either side moving upwards; a golden dove in flight, three gold crossed swords, a 6-pointed white enamel gold edged star. Hanging from it, a white enamel Maltese cross with a narrow gold edge, pendant from a gold Tongan crown. The red central medallion has a raised gold Tongan crown, the red riband has a gold legend in capital letters : KO'E 'OTUA MO TONGA KO HOKU TOFI'A. ("God and Tonga Are My Inheritance"). The Knight Grand Cross' ''Star / Plaque'' is a silver, silver-gilt & enamel 8-pointed faceted star with the collar-badge (minus the crown), placed in the centre. Recipients include: ;Australia *

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(Former Governor-General of Australia) * General

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(Former Governor-General of Australia) ;Bhutan * The Princess ''Ashi'' Sonam Dechen Wangchuck of Bhutan ;Japan *

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;New Zealand * Tūheitia Potatau Te Wherowhero VII, Māori King ;Thailand * The Princess Sirindhorn of Thailand, The Princess Debaratanarajasuda, The Princess Royal ;Tonga * Halaevalu Mataʻaho, The Late Queen Mother of Tonga * Prince Sione Ngū Manumataongo, The 5th Prince Fatafehi Tuʻipelehake * The Princess Salote Mafileʻo Pilolevu Tukuʻaho of Tonga, The Princess Royal, The Lady Tuita of ʻUtungake * The Late Queen Sālote Tupou III * The Prince Tupoutoʻa ʻUlukalala, The Crown Prince of Tonga * The Princess Sinaitakala Fakafanua, The Crown Princess of Tonga * The Prince Viliami Tukuʻaho, The 15th Prince ʻAta of Tonga ;United Kingdom *

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Grand Cross

The Grand Cross' ''Star'' is a silver 8-pointed faceted star, with the collar-badge (minus the crown), placed in the centre.

Commander

The ''Commander’s Necklet Badge'' is a white badge with a gold crown worn from the neck on a ribbon, approx. 41mm wide, red with two white stripes near the edge (approximative proportions 1/5.5/28/5.5/1 mm). Recipients include: *

Stephen Brady Stephen Christopher Brady (born 11 June 1959) is a former Australian career diplomat. In 1999 he and his partner Peter Stephens became the world's first officially acknowledged same sex ambassadorial couple, when they were presented to Queen ...

Elizabeth Wood-Ellem Dr Elizabeth Wood-Ellem (10 September 1930 – 8 September 2012) was a Tongan-born Australian historian actively engaged in the life of Tonga and author of the definitive biography of Queen Sālote Tupou III of Tonga. Birth and family Bo ...

Member

The ''Member’s Badge'' is a breast badge (smaller than Commander's) worn from a similar 36mm ribbon (approximative proportions 6/6/12/6/6mm).

References

{{Tongan honours Orders, decorations, and medals of Tonga Order of the Crown of Tonga Awards established in 1913 1913 establishments in Tonga