The king of the Pacific island
nation of Tonga, Tupou VI, has been formally crowned, more than three
years after ascending to the throne
.
Foreign royals, including the Crown Prince of Japan, attended the coronation ceremony in the capital, Nuku'alofa
.
A retired Australian minister performed the crowning as it is taboo for Tongans to touch their king's head
.
Former King George Tupou V died in March 2012
.
The
coronation was the culmination of a week of festivities that included a
traditional drinking rite, street parties and feasts
The ceremony, performed by 78-year-old retired Methodist minister D'Arcy Wood, drew thousands of Tongans and tourists
.
As
well as Crown Prince Naruhito, the European royals Prince Georg von
Habsburg of Hungary and Princess Marie-Therese von Hohenberg of Austria
attended
.
Tupou VI, 55, ascended to the throne after his bachelor brother died
.
Tonga gained its independence from Britain in 1970 but the monarchy stretches back 1,000 years.
.
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