Salote Mafile'o Pilolevu, Princess Royal (née Sālote Maf ileʻo Pilolevu Tuku'aho; born on 14 November 1951) is a Tongan princess and member of the Tongan royal family.
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Early life and education
Salote was born at the Royal Palace, Nukuʻalofa on 14 November 1951 as the second child and only daughter of the then Crown Prince Tāufaʻāhau and his wife, Crown Princess Halaevalu Mataʻaho, and a grandchild of Queen Sālote Tupou III of Tonga, for whom she is named after. She was christened into the Methodist Faith.
She was educated at the Anglican Diocesan School for Girls in Epsom, Auckland, New Zealand.
Official life
Activities
In June 2013, as Patron of Tupou High School, the Princess Royal organized the 50th anniversary celebrations of the school. In November 2013, she hosted a reception to mark the 15th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Tonga and China; the guests of honour were Li Baodong, former Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs and Li Xiaolin, former Chairperson of the China Power Investment Corporation.
As a member of the royal family, and on behalf of the King she carries out official engagements, which includes inaugurating new schools, new facilities, and other public attractions. As well as carrying out official engagements within Tonga, she also pays official visits abroad on behalf of the King. Within Tonga, the Princess Royal attends royal events such as the coronations of her brother, King Tupou VI and the late King George Tupou V military parades, christenings, royal and noble weddings and birthdays.
Regency
Until the accession of her younger brother, King Tupou VI, she had usually served as Regent in the King's absence. But on 11 March 2011, her brother, the late King George Tupou V, abolished the need for a Regent in his absence, an official press release from the palace stated, "His Majesty has decided that there will not be a Regent appointed during his absence as the new Constitutional arrangements make such an appointment unnecessary". The Princess Royal had served as Regent on four occasions.
2008
On 29 May she announced that the government would introduce a political reform bill by June 2008.
On 6 November she delivered the closing address of the year to the Legislative Assembly of Tonga.
2010
On 14 November she led the Memorial Day March and inspected the H.M's Armed Forces as Chief Commander.
2011
On 25 January she appointed the new prime minister Sialeʻataongo Tuʻivakanō.
On 26 January she appointed 'Uliti Uata as Minister of Health.
On 13 January she presided over the opening of the first meeting of the Legislative Assembly.
The Princess Royal is currently 8th in the Line of Succession to the Tongan throne.
Marriage and issue
The Princess Royal, with her husband, The Honourable Siosaʻia Maʻulupekotofa, Lord Tuita of ʻUtungake, a Tongan noble and former diplomat, are the parents of four daughters:
The Honourable Sālote Lupepau'u Salamasina Purea Vahine Ari'i 'Oe Hau Tuita. Her first marriage was an arranged marriage to the son of a Tongan nobleman, Lord Fusitu'a. Due to a private adult home video being released of Hon. Lupepau'u and Lord Fusitu'a they divorced in 2008. They had one daughter, Honourable Anaseini Tupou Veihola Ikaleti Olo-'i-Fangatapu Phaedra Tuita-Fusitu'a. She then married a former Tonga national rugby union team player Epi Taione in a private wedding ceremony in Fiji on 17 August 2013, with whom she has one son, Master Reggie Kite 'i Mahina Taione.
The Honourable Titilupe Fanetupouvava'u Tuita Tu'ivakano, was formerly engaged to the grandson of the late head of state of Samoa Malietoa Tanumafili II. The engagement was later called off. Fanetupouvava'u married in an arranged marriage to the son of the former prime minister of Tonga, Sialeʻataongo Tuʻivakanō. She is the only daughter to have married and stayed married to nobility, with her children entitled to be styled with Honourable titles. Together they have three children together, The Honourable Simon Ma'ulupekotofa, The Honourable Michaela and the Honourable Fatafehi.
The Honourable Frederica Lupe'uluiva Fatafehi 'o Lapaha Tuita Filipe, or known as Frederica Filipe like her older sister, Salote Lupepau'u, she married a commoner, Johnny Filipe who is the son of a Tongan businessman Sione Mateialona Filipe in Auckland, New Zealand, on 10 August 2013. With her husband, she has three children.
The Honourable Lupeolo Halaevalu Moheofo Virginia Rose Tuita 'Aleamotu'a. Married in June 2016 to Lt Lopeti Aleamotu'a, second son of Hon. Mosese Tangaki-Taulupe-ki-Folaha 'Aleamotu'a and his wife Mele Simiki Taufa 'Aleamotu'a (née Walter). She has one daughter, Kaimana Aleamotu'a.
and a son, whom they raised from her brother, the late Prince Fatafehi ʻAlaivahamamaʻo Tuku'aho (27 September 1954 – 17 February 2004):
Honours
Tonga: Dame Grand Cross with Collar of the Royal Order of Pouono
Tonga: Dame Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Queen Salote Tupou III
Tonga: Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown of Tonga
Tonga: Dame of the King George Tupou V Royal Family Order
Tonga: Recipient of the King Tupou VI Coronation Medal
Tonga: Recipient of the King George Tupou V Coronation Medal
Tonga: Recipient of the King Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV Silver Jubilee Medal
Foreign
Japan: Paulownia Dame Grand Cordon of the Order of the Precious Crown