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| Tonga crowns king in lavish rite | Tonga crowns king in lavish rite |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| George Tupou V has been crowned king of Tonga in the capital Nuku'alofa, marking the South Pacific state's first coronation in more than 40 years. | George Tupou V has been crowned king of Tonga in the capital Nuku'alofa, marking the South Pacific state's first coronation in more than 40 years. |
| He was anointed with oil and had a gold crown placed on his head in the Christian ceremony, performed in a church before 1,000 guests. | He was anointed with oil and had a gold crown placed on his head in the Christian ceremony, performed in a church before 1,000 guests. |
| The new monarch was called upon to rule "wisely, justly and truly". | The new monarch was called upon to rule "wisely, justly and truly". |
| Thousands of people had lined the route to the church and cheered when the new monarch emerged. | Thousands of people had lined the route to the church and cheered when the new monarch emerged. |
| The occasion marked "the opening of a new era in our journey as a nation - an era of political and economic reform and increased prosperity", Prime Minister Fred Sevele told guests, according to AP news agency. | |
| Silk breeches | Silk breeches |
| The new king's father, the late King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV, ascended to the throne in 1967 and died in 2006. | The new king's father, the late King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV, ascended to the throne in 1967 and died in 2006. |
| The king talked to the BBC before his coronation | The king talked to the BBC before his coronation |
| Sitting on a golden throne on Friday in the capital's Centenary Free Wesleyan Church, George Tupou V was "anointed, blessed and consecrated" by the Archbishop of Polynesia, Jabez Bryce. | Sitting on a golden throne on Friday in the capital's Centenary Free Wesleyan Church, George Tupou V was "anointed, blessed and consecrated" by the Archbishop of Polynesia, Jabez Bryce. |
| The king wore silk knee breeches, a medal-decked jacket and a maroon-coloured cape trimmed with white ermine fur. | The king wore silk knee breeches, a medal-decked jacket and a maroon-coloured cape trimmed with white ermine fur. |
| His three-metre-long (10-foot) train was carried by child pages. | |
| A 21-cannon salute and the tolling of church bells marked the coronation. | A 21-cannon salute and the tolling of church bells marked the coronation. |
| The ceremony was followed by an extravagant lunch, and then traditional dancing, a fireworks display and an open-air royal charity concert. | |
| There were three separate coronation balls - one for guests listed as "VVIPs" (very, very important persons), one for "VIPs" and a third for regular guests, reported AP. | |
| Royal guests included Japanese Crown Prince Naruhito, Thai Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn and the UK's Duke and Duchess of Gloucester. | Royal guests included Japanese Crown Prince Naruhito, Thai Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn and the UK's Duke and Duchess of Gloucester. |
| Also in attendance was New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark, who said: "If you went for no other reason, you would go for the singing," reported AFP news agency. | |
| Reforms | |
| Leaders have defended the lavish nature of the festivities, which have cost some 5.7m Tongan dollars (US$2.5m) in a country where poverty is widespread. | |
| The new king will rule over a semi-feudal political system where he and nobles decide the make-up of the cabinet and parliament. | The new king will rule over a semi-feudal political system where he and nobles decide the make-up of the cabinet and parliament. |
| But he has said he supports reforms, scheduled for 2010, in which most seats in the country's parliament will become popularly elected. | But he has said he supports reforms, scheduled for 2010, in which most seats in the country's parliament will become popularly elected. |
| The promised reforms follow destructive riots in Nuku'alofa in 2006. | |
| Were you in Nuku'alofa to celebrate the king's coronation? | |
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