Nuku’alofa, 4 July 2022 (TDI): On 4th July, the Kingdom of Tonga celebrated the birthday of King Tupou VI. King Tupou VI celebrated his 63rd birthday.

His Majesty Aho‘eitu ʻUnuakiʻotonga Tukuʻaho was born in 1959 in Nuku’alofa. He is the son of the Late Majesties King Taufa’ahau Tupou IV and Queen Halaevalu Mata’aho. King Tupou IV is the 3rd son and the youngest of his siblings.

‘Aho’eitu ‘Unuaki ‘o Tonga Tuku’aho received three chiefly titles. These titles are customary in the Tongan tradition.  His Majesty commonly used these titles Prince ‘Ulukalala Lavaka Ata, until he became Crown Prince.

​Prince ‘Ulukalala Lavaka Ata received his early education from The Leys School in Cambridge. He attended the University of East Anglia for further education. From there he graduated with a degree in Development Studies.

He is also a graduate of US Naval War College. He took the command of Pacific-class patrol boat VOEA Pangai from the year 1990 to 1995. In addition, he also led a peace-keeping mission in Bougainville.

He received his Master’s degree from the University of New South Wales in Defense Studies. Also, he earned a degree of Masters in International Relations from Bond University in Australia in the year 1999.

The Prince ‘Ulukalala Lavaka Ata joined the civil services in the year 1998. He served in two positions as a Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defense.

Succession to the Crown

He was appointed as the Prime Minister of Tonga from January 2000 to February 2006. Later when his elder brother became King George Tupou V, he then received the title Crown Prince Tupouto’a Lavaka.

In 2008 he became the first High Commissioner of Tonga to Australia. After that, he also served as the Ambassador to Japan. In the year 2012, King Tupou V passed away.

After that, His Majesty Tupou VI become his successor. He was formally crowned as the king in July 2015. Since then he is serving as the Monarch of the Kingdom of Tonga.

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