Tonga’s HRH Prince’s Birthday:

July 12, 2010

HRH Prince’s Birthday is a public holiday in Tonga.

Tonga dedicates July 12 every year for the

Celebration of Birthday

of the Heir to the Crown of Tonga, ʻAhoʻeitu ʻUnuakiʻotonga Tukuʻaho.

Tonga’s political system is a Constitutional Monarchy but the King of Tonga, Siaosi Taufa’ahau Manumataongo Tuku’aho Tupou V, recently opened up the country to a more fully representative government through the institution of election in 2010, granting the majority of its people of legal voting age to elect the ruler of their choice.

History of Tonga’s HRH Prince’s Birthday

The son of Son of King Taufa’ahau Tupou IV and Queen Halaevalu Mata’aho ‘Ahome’e, Crown Prince ʻAhoʻeitu ʻUnuakiʻotonga Tukuʻaho (Lavaka Ata ʻUlukālala) was born on July 1, 1959. He served as Prime Minister of Tonga from January 2000 to February 2006. He is married to Princess Heuifanga Nanasipau’u Tuku’aho.

They have three children:

3 Princes

Princess ʻAngelika Lātūfuipeka Halaʻevalu Mataʻaho Napuaʻokalani Tukuʻaho (1983), Prince ‘Ulukalala (Siaosi Manumataongo ʻAlaivahamamaʻo ʻAhoʻeitu Konstantin Tukuʻaho) (1985), and Prince Ata (Viliami ʻUnuaki-ʻo-Tonga Mumui Lalaka-Mo-e-ʻEiki Tukuʻaho) (1988).

The prince initially started a military career and became part of the Tonga Defence Services, of which he was a navy. He later gave up his military ambitions to join the Tonga’s government’s political arena. He first took the defense minister position and later foreign minister from October 1998 to August 2004.

On January 2000, he was elected, as the country’s prime minister. He served the post until his resignation on February 2006 due in part to the civil unrest which calls for the monarchs to have less control over government’s functions.

The prince’s confirmation to become as Tonga’s heir to the throne was made on September 27, 2006.