Princess Royal Salote Mafile'o Pilolevu, The Honourable Lady Tuita (nee Sālote Mafileʻo Pilolevu Tuku'aho; born on 14 November 1951) is a Tongan princess and member of the
Tongan Royal Family.
Early life and education
Salote was born at the
Royal Palace,
Nukuʻalofa
Nukualofa (; ) is the capital and largest city of Tonga. It is located on the north coast of the island of Tongatapu, in the country's southernmost island group.
History
First western records of Nukualofa
On 10 June 1777, British captain Jam ...
on 14 November 1951 as the second child and only daughter of the then
Crown Prince Tāufaʻāhau and his wife,
Crown Princess Halaevalu Mataʻaho, and a grandchild of
Queen Sālote Tupou III of Tonga, for whom she is named after. She was christened into the
Methodist Faith.
She was educated at the Anglican Diocesan School for Girls in
Epsom
Epsom is the principal town of the Borough of Epsom and Ewell in Surrey, England, about south of central London. The town is first recorded as ''Ebesham'' in the 10th century and its name probably derives from that of a Saxon landowner. The ...
,
Auckland
Auckland (pronounced ) ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. The most populous urban area in the country and the fifth largest city in Oceania, Auckland has an urban population of about ...
,
New Zealand
New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...
.
Official Life
Activities
![Princess Salote Mafile'o with guests at coronation banquet](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/ba/Princess_Salote_Mafile%27o_with_guests_at_coronation_banquet.jpg)
In 2010, the Princess Royal attended the
World Expo
A world's fair, also known as a universal exhibition or an expo, is a large international exhibition designed to showcase the achievements of nations. These exhibitions vary in character and are held in different parts of the world at a specif ...
in Shanghai, China, to help boost the tourism industry in Tonga.
In June 2013, as Patron of
Tupou High School, the Princess Royal organized the 50th anniversary celebrations of the school. In November 2013, she hosted a reception to mark the 15th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Tonga and China; the guests of honour were
Li Baodong, former
Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs and
Li Xiaolin
Li Xiaolin (; born 1 June 1961) is a Chinese businesswoman, currently serving as vice-president of the China Datang Corporation, a state-owned power generation enterprise. She is the former CEO of China Power International Development (SEHK: ...
, former Chairperson of the
China Power Investment Corporation
China Power Investment Corporation also known as CPI Group was one of the five largest state-owned electricity producers in mainland China. It was administrated by the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC) of the ...
.
As a member of the royal family, and on behalf of the King she carries out official engagements, which includes inaugurating new schools, new facilities, and other public attractions. As well as carrying out official engagements within Tonga, she also pays official visits abroad on behalf of the King.
Within Tonga, the Princess Royal attends royal events such as the coronations of her brother, King Tupou VI and the late King George Tupou V military parades,christenings, royal and noble weddings and birthdays.
Regency
Until the accession of her younger brother,
King Tupou VI, she had usually served as Regent in the King's absence. But on 11 March 2011, her brother, the late King George Tupou V, abolished the need for a Regent in his absence, an official press release from the palace stated, "His Majesty has decided that there will not be a Regent appointed during his absence as the new Constitutional arrangements make such an appointment unnecessary". The Princess Royal had served as Regent on four separate occasions
;2008
* On 29 May she announced that the government would introduce a political reform bill by June 2008.
* On 6 November she delivered the closing address of the year to the Legislative Assembly of Tonga.
;2010
* On 14 November she led the
Memorial Day
Memorial Day (originally known as Decoration Day) is a federal holiday in the United States for mourning the U.S. military personnel who have fought and died while serving in the United States armed forces. It is observed on the last Monda ...
March and inspected the
H.M's Armed Forces as Chief Commander.
;2011
* On 25 January she appointed the new prime minister
Sialeʻataongo Tuʻivakanō
Siale ʻAtaongo Kaho, Lord Tuʻivakanō (born 15 January 1952) is a Tongan politician who served as the Prime Minister of Tonga from 2010 to 2014.
Descent and naming
Tuʻivakanō was born in Niutoua on Tongatapu as Siale ʻAtaongo Kaho. His p ...
.
* On 26 January she appointed
‘Uliti Uata as Minister of Health.
* On 13 January she presided over the opening of the first meeting of the
Legislative Assembly.
The Princess Royal is currently 8th in
the Line of Succession to the Tongan throne.
"Tongan princesses cause outrage by both marrying 'commoners'"
''The Daily Telegraph
''The Daily Telegraph'', known online and elsewhere as ''The Telegraph'', is a national British daily broadsheet newspaper published in London by Telegraph Media Group and distributed across the United Kingdom and internationally.
It was f ...
'', 7 August 2013. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
Marriage and Issue
The Princess Royal, with her husband, The Honourable Siosaʻia Maʻulupekotofa, Lord Tuita of ʻUtungake, a Tongan noble and former diplomat, are the parents of four daughters:
* The Honourable Sālote Lupepau'u Salamasina Purea Vahine Ari'i 'Oe Hau Tuita. Her first marriage was an arranged marriage too the son of a Tongan nobleman, Lord Fusitu'a, whom she divorced in 2008. They had one daughter, The Honourable Anaseini Tupou Veihola Ikaleti Olo-'i-Fangatapu Phaedra Tuita-Fusitu'a. She then married a former 'Ikale Tahi
The Tonga national rugby union team ( to, timi feohi ʻakapulu fakafonua ʻa Tonga) represents Tonga in men's international rugby union. The team is nicknamed ''Ikale Tahi (Sea Eagles)''. Like their Polynesian neighbours, the Tongans start the ...
rugby player Epeli Taione in a private wedding ceremony in Fiji on 17 August 2013, with whom she has one son, Master
Master or masters may refer to:
Ranks or titles
* Ascended master, a term used in the Theosophical religious tradition to refer to spiritually enlightened beings who in past incarnations were ordinary humans
*Grandmaster (chess), National Master ...
Reggie Kite 'i Mahina Taione.
* The Honourable Titilupe Fanetupouvava'u Tuita Tu'ivakano, was formerly engaged to the grandson of the late head of state
A head of state (or chief of state) is the public persona who officially embodies a state Foakes, pp. 110–11 " he head of statebeing an embodiment of the State itself or representatitve of its international persona." in its unity and l ...
of Samoa
Samoa, officially the Independent State of Samoa; sm, Sāmoa, and until 1997 known as Western Samoa, is a Polynesian island country consisting of two main islands ( Savai'i and Upolu); two smaller, inhabited islands ( Manono and Apolima); ...
Malietoa Tanumafili II
Malietoa Tanumafili II (4 January 1913 – 11 May 2007), addressed Susuga Malietoa Tanumafili II, was the Malietoa, the title of one of Samoa's four paramount chiefs, and the head of state, or '' O le Ao o le Malo'', a position that he held f ...
. The engagement was later called off. Fanetupouvava'u married in an arranged marriage to the son of the former prime minister
A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister i ...
of 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 ...
, Sialeʻataongo Tuʻivakanō
Siale ʻAtaongo Kaho, Lord Tuʻivakanō (born 15 January 1952) is a Tongan politician who served as the Prime Minister of Tonga from 2010 to 2014.
Descent and naming
Tuʻivakanō was born in Niutoua on Tongatapu as Siale ʻAtaongo Kaho. His p ...
. She is the only daughter to have married and stayed married to nobility, with her children entitled to be styled with Honourable titles. Together they have three children together, The Honourable Simon Ma'ulupekotofa, The Honourable Michaela and the Honourable Fatafehi.
* The Honourable Frederica Lupe'uluiva Fatafehi 'o Lapaha Tuita Filipe, or known as Frederica Filipe like her older sister, Salote Lupepau'u, she married a commoner, Johnny Filipe who is the son of a Tongan businessman Sione Mateialona Filipe in Auckland, New Zealand
Auckland (pronounced ) ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. The most populous urban area in the country and the fifth largest city in Oceania, Auckland has an urban population of about I ...
, on 10 August 2013. With her husband, she has three children.
* The Honourable Lupeolo Halaevalu Moheofo Virginia Rose Tuita 'Aleamotu'a. Married in June 2016 to Lt Lopeti Aleamotu’a, second son of Hon. Mosese Tangaki-Taulupe-ki-Folaha 'Aleamotu'a and his wife Mele Simiki Taufa 'Aleamotu'a (''née'' Walter). She has one daughter, Kaimana Aleamotu’a.
and a son, whom they raised from her brother, the late Prince Fatafehi ʻAlaivahamamaʻo Tuku'aho (27 September 1954 – 17 February 2004):
* The Honourable Fatafehi Sione Ikamafana Tānekinga ʻo Tonga Tuku'aho is the second son of Prince Fatafehi 'Alaivahamama'o Tuku'aho and the Hon. Alaileula Tuku'aho; (Dowager Ma'atu). The Honourable Sione Ikamafana Tuku'aho is engaged to wed Lanu Hahau Faletau.
Honours
* : Dame Grand Cross with Collar of the Royal Order of Pouono
The Royal Order of Pouono is the highest knighthood order of the Kingdom of Tonga
Tonga (, ; ), officially the Kingdom of Tonga ( to, Puleʻanga Fakatuʻi ʻo Tonga), is a Polynesian country and archipelago. The country has 171 islands ...
* : Dame Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Queen Salote Tupou III
* : Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown of Tonga
* : Dame of the King George Tupou V Royal Family Order
* : Recipient of the King Tupou VI Coronation Medal
* : Recipient of the King George Tupou V Coronation Medal
* : Recipient of the King Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV Silver Jubilee Medal
Foreign
* : Paulownia Dame Grand Cordon of the Order of the Precious Crown
The is a Japanese order, established on January 4, 1888 by Emperor Meiji of Japan. Since the Order of the Rising Sun at that time was an Order for men, it was established as an Order for women. Originally the order had five classes, but on Apr ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pilolevu Tuita, Salote Mafileʻo
1951 births
Living people
Tongan royalty
Princesses Royal
Tongan princesses
Grand Cordons of the Order of the Precious Crown
Dames Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown of Tonga
People from Tongatapu
20th-century Tongan people
20th-century Tongan women
21st-century Tongan people
21st-century Tongan women
Daughters of kings