The Royal Order of the Crown of Tonga (Tongan: Fakalangilangi 'o Kalauni 'o Tonga) is an Order of Merit awarded for exceptional services to Tonga and the Crown of Tonga. Currently, it is the highest honor that is conferred by the Kingdom of Tonga (with the Royal Order of Pouono being inactive and the Order of King George Tupou I being dormant).
| Royal Order of the Crown of Tonga Ko e Fakalangilangi ‘o Kalauni ‘o Tonga | |
|---|---|
_-_MOC.jpg) Insignia of Member of the Order | |
| Awarded by King of Tonga | |
| Type | Order of Merit |
| Royal house | House of Tupou |
| Motto | KO'E 'OTUA MO TONGA KO HOKU TOFI'A. ("God and Tonga Are My Inheritance") |
| Eligibility | Civilians and militaries, Tongan or foreigners |
| Awarded for | Exceptional services to the State and the Crown |
| Status | Currently constituted |
| Sovereign | King Tupou VI |
| Grades | Knight Grand Cross Grand Cross Commander Member |
| Precedence | |
| Next (higher) | Order of King George Tupou I |
| Next (lower) | Order of Queen Sālote Tupou III |
 Ribbon of the order | |
History
editIt was established 16 April 1913 by George Tupou II to reward those who distinguished themselves by exceptional services to the State and the Crown.[2] The Order was in four classes, and the insignia were designed and manufactured in Germany.[2] The first awards were made in August 1914, to the King, Queen ʻAnaseini Takipō and to F T Goedicke, the Chancellor of the Order.[3] Shortly afterwards word arrived of the outbreak of the First World War, and the king suspended further awards for the duration.[3] The Order was forgotten with Tupou's death in 1918.[2]
It was reorganized on 31 July 2008 by King George Tupou V, in particular relatively to all the classes of merit.[4] It can be awarded to militaries and civilians, native of Tonga or foreigner, without distinction of religion.
Classes
editThe order is presented in four classes:[1][5]
- Knight Grand Cross (K.G.C.C.T.) – Collar, Star, Sash, Miniature & Ribbon bar
- Grand Cross (G.C.C.T.) – Star, Sash, Miniature & Ribbon bar
- Commander (C.C.T.) – Necklet, Miniature & Ribbon bar
- Member (M.C.T.) – Breast Badge, Miniature & Ribbon bar
Insignia
editThe 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
editThe 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
- Dame Quentin Bryce (Former Governor-General of Australia)[6]
- General Sir Peter Cosgrove (Former Governor-General of Australia)
- Bhutan
- Japan
- New Zealand
- Thailand
- 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
- Mataʻiʻulua ʻi Fonuamotu, Lord Fusituʻa
- United Kingdom
Grand Cross
editThe Grand Cross' Star is a silver 8-pointed faceted star, with the collar-badge (minus the crown), placed in the centre.
Commander
editThe 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:
Member
editThe Member’s Badge is a breast badge (smaller than Commander's) worn from a similar 36mm ribbon (approximative proportions 6/6/12/6/6mm).[5]
References
edit- ^ a b "ODM of Tonga: Order of the Crown of Tonga". Medals.org.uk. Retrieved 15 May 2012.
- ^ a b c "Order of Crown of Tonga A Forgotten Incident of 1914". Pacific Islands Monthly. Vol. XIII, no. 1. 17 August 1942. p. 45. Retrieved 17 December 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ a b F. T. Goedicke-van Asten (1 September 1949). "'ORDER OF THE CROWN OF TONGA' Story of a Now Defunct Decoration". Pacific Islands Monthly. Vol. XX, no. 2. p. 85. Retrieved 17 December 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "His Majesty Grants National Honours". Government of Tonga. 31 July 2008. Archived from the original on 10 August 2008.
- ^ a b John Duncan McMeekin's summary
- ^ "Here Are The Honours Our New Governor-General, His Excellency Sir Peter Cosgrove, AC MC, Already Has". Business Insider. 26 March 2014. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
- ^ a b "Royal orders presented at Palace". Matangi Tonga Online. 1 August 2008. Retrieved 31 July 2024.