Halaevalu Mataʻaho ʻAhomeʻe
| Halaevalu Mataʻaho ʻAhomeʻe | |
|---|---|
| Queen Mother of Tonga | |
| Reign | 16 December 1965 – 10 September 2006 |
| Spouse | Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV |
| Issue | |
| George Tupou V Tupou VI Sālote Mafileʻo Pilolevu Tuita Fatafehi ʻAlaivahamamaʻo Tukuʻaho |
|
| House | Tupou |
| Father | Ahomeʻe (Manu-ʻo-pangai) |
| Mother | Heuʻifanga |
| Born | 29 May 1926 |
Halaevalu Mata'aho (born 29 May 1926)[1] is the mother of the deceased King George Tupou V and the reigning King Tupou VI of Tonga, as well as the widow of King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV, who died in 2006.[2]
Halaevalu Mataʻaho ʻAhomeʻe was born on 29 May 1926, the oldest daughter of ‘Ahome’e (Manu-‘o-pangai) and his wife, Heu'ifanga, a great granddaughter of the last King of the Tuʻi Tonga Empire.[1][3][4] The Queen Mother is a descendent of Ma'afu.[4] Halaevalu Mata'aho married her husband, Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV, on June 10, 1947.[4] Taufa'ahau Tupou IV died in 2006.
The Queen Mother celebrated her 85th birthday in 2011 with a five day celebration held in May.[3] The celebrations began with a Garden Party for more than one hundred Tongan women held at the home of the President of the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga, Rev. Dr. ‘Ahio.[3] The Queen Mother attended a Catholic mass at St. Mary's Cathedral in Ma'ufanga with King Siaosi Tupou V on May 26, 2011.[3] The Tongan Ministry of Education, Women Affairs and Culture held a student celebration for her birthday on May 27, with of primary school students from Pangai Lahi to Teufaiva Park, including presenting the Queen Mother with birthday gifts.[3] A private party was held in Ha'avakatolo the next day, followed by a church service held at Centennial Church on Sunday, May 29, with a royal luncheon at the Royal Palace in Nukuʻalofa.[3]
The Queen Mother embarked on a two week trip to the U.S. state of Utah in July and August 2011.[5] Specifically, the Queen Mother came to visit the Tongan United Methodist Church in West Valley City, Utah, whose congregation had raised approximately $500,000 in less than a year to pay off the mortgage on the building.[5]
The Mayor of West Valley City, Mike Winder, awarded the Queen Mother the key to the city on July 27, 2011.[5] She met with Utah Governor Gary Herbert the next day.[5]
References [edit]
- ^ a b "A week of celebration underway for the Queen's 85th Birthday". Ministry of Information and Communications. 2011-05-25. Retrieved 2011-09-14.
- ^ Reigning Royal Families: Tonga International Who's Who, retrieved 6 January 2011
- ^ a b c d e f "Queen Mother celebrates 85th birthday". Taimi Media Network. 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-09-14.
- ^ a b c "The Royal Family". Tongan Royal Family. Retrieved 2011-09-14.
- ^ a b c d Farmer, Molly (2011-07-30). "Queen Mother of Tonga celebrates with West Valley congregation". Deseret News. Retrieved 2011-09-14.
