Rome, March 2012. The Grand Master of the Constantinian Order, HRH The Duke of Castro, has extended his deep condolences to the Royal Family, Government and people of the Kingdom of Tonga following the sudden passing on 18 March 2012 of its monarch King George Tupou V of Tonga.
King George Tupou V had only weeks before visited Rome and called on the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, at the Vatican City.
The Grand Prior of the Constantinian Order, His Eminence Renato Raffaele, Cardinal Martino, also received the King on behalf of the Grand Master and presented the late King with the insignia of a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Francis I and the Gold Benemerenti Medal of the Constantinian Order.
Representing the Order’s Grand Master, the Delegate for Great Britain and Ireland, Mr Anthony Bailey, accompanied by his wife, HSH Princess Marie-Therese von Hohenberg Mrs Anthony Bailey, attended a Thanksgiving Service held on Saturday 31 March 2012 at Wesley’s Chapel in London which was led by The Reverend Lord Griffiths, Superintendent of Wesley’s Chapel.
Among those who attended were HRH The Duchess of Gloucester and senior representatives of other members of the British Royal Family, Foreign & Commonwealth Office and Ambassadors and High Commissioners accredited to the Court of St James’s.
The State Funeral took place in the Tongan capital, Nuku’alofa. The late King was succeeded to the Throne by his brother, HM King Tupou VI.