Funeral of King Tupou V of Tonga

Tupou always traveled around his Kingdom in one of two London taxis. The reason for his choice was entirely practical: “An English taxi is extremely easy to get in and out of wearing a sword, a spiked helmet or spurs. I realise these are not primary considerations for buying a car for most people but it is for me,” he once said.

NUKU'ALOFA, TONGA - SEPTEMBER 19: The bearer party conveys the Royal casket to the tomb at the State Funeral For King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV of Tonga at his chiefly burial ground on September 19, 2006 in Nuku'alofa, Tonga. King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV died on September 10, 2006 after a long illness. He was 88 and had been ruler of Tonga since the death of his mother in 1965. Crown Prince Tupouto'a has taken over the king's duties. (Photo by Sandra Mu/Getty Images) — Sandra Mu/Getty Images (Sandra Mu)

Hundreds of pall bearers, wearing black clothes and traditional woven skirts, carried the flag-draped casket of King George Tupou V of Tonga on a black and gold bier from Tonga’s Royal Palace through the capital, Nuku’alofa yesterday.

The death of the monacle-wearing king, who had a penchant for Savile Row suits and driving around in a London taxi, had engulfed the country in a “black stormcloud”, Prime Minister Lord Tu’ivakano said.

Tupou was 63 when he died at a hospital in Hong Kong last week. He ruled for just eight years, but was much loved in Tonga for having introduced a democratically elected parliament and relinquishing absolute, monarchy.

Tongans will now wear black for the next 100 days of official mourning.