Tupou VI, King of Tonga, reigned 2006 – present; Credit – Wikipedia

Tonga consists of 169 islands, of which 36 are inhabited, in the south Pacific Ocean, about 1,100 miles/1,800 kilometers northeast of New Zealand’s North Island.

Tonga has long been a monarchy and by the 12th century, Tonga and its Paramount Chiefs had a strong reputation throughout the central Pacific Ocean. Tonga became a kingdom in 1845 and has been ruled by the House of Tupou. From 1900 to 1970, Tonga had a protected state status with the United Kingdom which looked after its foreign affairs under a Treaty of Friendship.

The order of succession to the throne of Tonga was established in the 1875 constitution. The crown descends according to male-preference cognatic primogeniture – a female can succeed if she has no living brothers and no deceased brothers who left surviving legitimate descendants.

House of Tupou (1845 – present)

Rulers since 1918

• Queen Sālote Tupou III of Tonga (reigned 1918 – 1965)
• King Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV of Tonga (reigned (1965 – 2006)
• King George Tupou V of Tonga (reigned 2006 – 2012)
• King Tupou VI of Tonga  (reigned 2006 – present)
  • Notable Issue: Crown Prince Tupoutoʻa ʻUlukalala of Tonga