The Queen of Tonga
Reading of the death of the King of Tonga made me think about the visit of Salote, Queen of Tonga, for our Queen's coronation. It emptied down for Coronation Day, and all the dignitaries and heads of state were hiding under the hoods of their carriages.
All except 6' 3", 20 stone Salote, Queen of Tonga. Tongan custom forbids you to cover your head in the presence of a higher ranking person so out of deference to the Queen of England she sat grinning in the pouring rain, waving to the crowd and winning everyone's heart.
They wrote poems for her. My favourite is this: Linger longer, Queen of Tonga,
Linger longer wiv us.
Longer while the English summer
Gives us all the shivvas.
While the summer east winds blow
And shake our English livvas.
The Time article (click on the link) tells how she won British hearts wherever she went. It only hints at how she unified her country and brought education, peace and prosperity (she reigned from 1918). http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,889722,00.html
I think she is an example to us of the benefit of simply going for it.
All except 6' 3", 20 stone Salote, Queen of Tonga. Tongan custom forbids you to cover your head in the presence of a higher ranking person so out of deference to the Queen of England she sat grinning in the pouring rain, waving to the crowd and winning everyone's heart.
They wrote poems for her. My favourite is this: Linger longer, Queen of Tonga,
Linger longer wiv us.
Longer while the English summer
Gives us all the shivvas.
While the summer east winds blow
And shake our English livvas.
The Time article (click on the link) tells how she won British hearts wherever she went. It only hints at how she unified her country and brought education, peace and prosperity (she reigned from 1918). http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,889722,00.html
I think she is an example to us of the benefit of simply going for it.
Comments
I was only a very young lad then, honest!
However, I take it from your posting Alan, that Queen Salote's successor has died, I wasn't aware 'til then.