Sālote Tupou III facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sālote Tupou III |
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Queen Salote in her coronation robe
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| Queen of Tonga | |||||
| Reign | 5 April 1918 – 16 December 1965 | ||||
| Coronation | 11 October 1918, Nukuʻalofa | ||||
| Predecessor | George Tupou II | ||||
| Successor | Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV | ||||
| Prime Ministers |
See List
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| Born | 13 March 1900 Royal Palace, Tonga |
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| Died | 16 December 1965 (aged 65) Aotea Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand |
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| Burial | Mala‘e Kula | ||||
| Spouse |
Prince Viliami Tungī Mailefihi
(m. 1916; |
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| Issue | Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV Prince Uiliami Tuku‘aho Prince Fatafehi Tu'ipelehake |
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| House | Tupou | ||||
| Father | George Tupou II | ||||
| Mother | Lavinia Veiongo | ||||
| Religion | Free Wesleyan Church | ||||
Sālote Tupou III (born Sālote Mafile‘o Pilolevu; 13 March 1900 – 16 December 1965) was the Queen of Tonga. She ruled from 1918 until her death in 1965. Her reign lasted almost 48 years, which is longer than any other Tongan monarch. Queen Sālote was also known for being very tall, standing 1.91 meters (6 feet 3 inches) in her younger years.
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Early Life of Queen Sālote
Sālote was born on March 13, 1900, in Tonga. She was the oldest daughter of King George Tupou II and his first wife, Queen Lavinia Veiongo. She was named after her great-grandmother, Sālote Mafile‘o Pilolevu.
At first, some people in Tonga did not like Sālote. This was because her mother, Queen Lavinia, was not from a very high-ranking family. It was even unsafe for Sālote to go outside the palace sometimes.
Sadly, her mother, Queen Lavinia, passed away from an illness in 1902. After this, the Chiefs of Tonga wanted King George Tupou II to marry again. They hoped he would have a son to be his heir. In 1909, the King married 16-year-old ʻAnaseini Takipō. The Chiefs were very happy about this. Queen Anaseni had two daughters, but both passed away when they were young.
Education and Learning
In December 1909, Sālote went to Auckland, New Zealand, to study for five years. She came back to Tonga for every Christmas holiday. After 1914, the King asked her to stay in Tonga. This was because it seemed unlikely that Queen Anaseni would have a male heir. Sālote then began to learn about Tongan history and customs.
Family Life
In 1917, Sālote married Viliami Tungī Mailefihi. He was 30 years old, 13 years older than her. When she was 18, she became a mother. Her children were:
- Prince Siaosi Tāufaʻāhau Tupoulahi (born 1918), who later became King Tāufa‘āhau Tupou IV.
- Prince Uiliami Tuku‘aho (born 1919), who passed away when he was young.
- Prince Sione Ngū Manumataongo (born 1922), who later became the 5th Tu'ipelehake.
- She also had three pregnancies that did not result in a live birth.
Queen Sālote passed away on December 16, 1965, in Auckland, New Zealand, after a long illness. Her body was brought back to Tonga.
Important Achievements
Her marriage to Tungī Mailefihi was a smart move by her father. Tungī was related to important royal families in Tonga. This meant their children would have a strong connection to all three major royal lines in Tonga.
Queen Sālote was also very interested in Tongan history. In 1920–1921, she helped a museum expedition map ancient Tongan sites. She gave them access to places and shared information. She was also a talented writer. She wrote many dance songs and love poems, which were published in 2004.
Sālote led Tonga during World War II. Tonga declared war on Germany in 1940 and on Japan in 1941. She offered Tonga's help to Britain and supported the Allied countries throughout the war. Tongan soldiers even fought against the Japanese in the Solomon Islands.
She became famous around the world when she visited Europe in 1953. She attended the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in London. During the parade, it started to rain. People put hoods on their carriages. But Queen Sālote refused a hood. Tongan custom says you should not copy the actions of someone you are honoring. So, she rode through the rain in an open carriage. This made many people admire her. She also led the Tonga Traditions Committee and supported the Tonga Red Cross Society.
Honours and Awards
Queen Sālote received many special awards and honours, mostly from the United Kingdom:
United Kingdom: Honorary Dame Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George- United Kingdom: Honorary Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order
- United Kingdom: Honorary Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire
- United Kingdom: Honorary Dame Grand Cross of the Order of St John
- United Kingdom: Recipient of the King George V Silver Jubilee Medal
- United Kingdom: Recipient of the King George VI Coronation Medal
- United Kingdom: Recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal
Images for kids
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