Order of the Crown of Tonga

The Royal Order of the Crown of Tonga (Tongan: Fakalangilangi 'o Kalauni 'o Tonga) is an Order of Merit awarded for exceptional services to Tonga and the Crown of Tonga.

Royal Order of the Crown of Tonga
Ko e Fakalangilangi ‘o Kalauni ‘o Tonga
Insignia of Member of the Order
Awarded by King of Tonga
TypeOrder of Merit
Royal houseHouse of Tupou
MottoKO'E 'OTUA MO TONGA KO HOKU TOFI'A. ("God and Tonga Are My Inheritance")
EligibilityCivilians and militaries, Tongan or foreigners
Awarded forExceptional services to the State and the Crown
StatusCurrently constituted
SovereignKing Tupou VI
GradesKnight Grand Cross with Collar
Knight/Dame Grand Cross
Knight/Dame Commander
Member
Precedence
Next (higher)Order of King George Tupou I
Next (lower)Order of Queen Sālote Tupou III

Ribbon of the order

History

It was established 16 April 1913 by George Tupou II to reward those who distinguished themselves by exceptional services to the State and the Crown.[1] The Order was in four classes, and the insignia were designed and manufactured in Germany.[1] The first awards were made in August 1914, to the King, Queen ʻAnaseini Takipō and to F T Goedicke, the Chancellor of the Order.[2] Shortly afterwards word arrived of the outbreak of the First World War, and the king suspended further awards for the duration.[2] The Order was forgotten with Tupou's death in 1918.[1]

It was reorganized on 31 July 2008 by King George Tupou V, in particular relatively to all the classes of merit.[3] It can be awarded to militaries and civilians, native of Tonga or foreigner, without distinction of religion.

Classes

The order is presented in four classes:[4][5]

  • Knight Grand Cross with Collar - Collar, Star, Sash, Miniature & Ribbon bar
  • Knight/Dame Grand Cross - Star, Sash, Miniature & Ribbon bar
  • Knight/Dame Commander - Necklet, Miniature & Ribbon bar
  • Member - Breast Badge, Miniature & Ribbon bar

Insignia

The Sash for the two upper classes is a red moiré sash with a white stripe near each edge. Men's sash is 102mm wide (proportions : 2.5/14.5/68/14.5/2.5mm). Women's sash is 75mm wide (proportions : 1.5/10./51/10.5/1.5mm).

Knight Grand Cross

The Collar is a double gold chain, set with a 6-pointed white enamel gold edged star (centre-piece), with on either side moving upwards; a golden dove in flight, three gold crossed swords, a 6-pointed white enamel gold edged star. Hanging from it, a white enamel Maltese cross with a narrow gold edge, pendant from a gold Tongan crown. The red central medallion has a raised gold Tongan crown, the red riband has a gold legend in capital letters : KO'E 'OTUA MO TONGA KO HOKU TOFI'A. ("God and Tonga Are My Inheritance").

The Knight Grand Cross' Star / Plaque is a silver, silver-gilt & enamel 8-pointed faceted star with the collar-badge (minus the crown), placed in the centre.

Recipients include:

Australia
Bhutan
Japan
New Zealand
Thailand
Tonga
United Kingdom

Grand Cross

The Grand Cross' Star is a silver 8-pointed faceted star, with the collar-badge (minus the crown), placed in the centre.

Commander

The Commander’s Necklet Badge is a white badge with a gold crown worn from the neck on a ribbon, approx. 41mm wide, red with two white stripes near the edge (approximative proportions 1/5.5/28/5.5/1 mm). Recipients include:

Member

The Member’s Badge is a breast badge (smaller than Commander's) worn from a similar 36mm ribbon (approximative proportions 6/6/12/6/6mm).[5]

References
  1. "Order of Crown of Tonga A Forgotten Incident of 1914". Pacific Islands Monthly. Vol. XIII, no. 1. 17 August 1942. p. 45. Retrieved 17 December 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. F. T. Goedicke-van Asten (1 September 1949). "'ORDER OF THE CROWN OF TONGA' Story of a Now Defunct Decoration". Pacific Islands Monthly. Vol. XX, no. 2. p. 85. Retrieved 17 December 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. "His Majesty Grants National Honours". Government of Tonga. 31 July 2008. Archived from the original on 10 August 2008.
  4. "ODM of Tonga: Order of the Crown of Tonga". Medals.org.uk. Retrieved 15 May 2012.
  5. John Duncan McMeekin's summary
  6. "Here Are The Honours Our New Governor-General, His Excellency Sir Peter Cosgrove, AC MC, Already Has". Business Insider. 26 March 2014. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
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