The Year of Queen Sālote Tupou III – Travelling to the UK for Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation

Queen Sālote Tupou III of Tonga had always admired the United Kingdom, and she was grateful for the protection they had given Tonga. She received several British honours, and she was an Honorary Dame Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George, Honorary Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order, Honorary Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire and Honorary Dame Grand Cross of the Order of St John. She got a chance to visit the United Kingdom when she received an invitation to the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.

On 23 March 1953, Queen Sālote left Tonga onboard the Tofua as weeping crowds sang to her. They were fearful that they might never see her again. Queen Sālote, too, realised that there may be people in her life who might not be there when she returned after such a long journey. People had come to say goodbye at the palace before her departure, and she told the older people, “Now promise. No going before I return.”¹

Queen Sālote detailed the long journey in her diary. She was delighted by everything she saw and was sometimes baffled by the cultural differences.² The Tofua sailed via Vavu’u, Pago Pago (American Sāmoa), Apia (Western Sāmoa) and Suva to Auckland. In Auckland, she rested for ten days in her newly purchased residence, ‘Atalanga. On 18 April, she received a farewell from the New Zealand government as she sailed from Wellington on the Rangitoto.

During the trip, she landed on Pitcairn Island, but she did not disembark. Her first disembarkment took place in Panama on 4 May. She was welcomed there by the British Consul, and he entertained her for a day. As she sailed through the Panama Canal, she wrote, “There are no words adequate for praising or describing the Canal, or the wonder and the beauty of the work. I stood there without moving, marvelling at the energy that lay behind the great improvements in technology and communication among the peoples of the world. My heart warmed at the sight I beheld, and I gave thanks for the privilege of seeing this famous scene of this modern age.³

She was again entertained by the British Consul at Curaçao, and she had afternoon tea at the British Women’s Club. She later wrote, “It was a happy welcome that the British women gave us. The tea was good, and everything went well. Best of all were the hospitality and friendliness of these dear people.”⁴

England finally came into view on 17 May. An emotion Queen Sālote wrote, “Ah! How the emotions welled up in my heart, confusion mixed with excitement, nervousness, and feelings of anticipation. But these feelings were checked by the thought of my unworthiness, and my nervousness made me feel somewhat cold.”⁵

Her ship docked in Southampton the following day. She was welcomed by James Scott Neil and Sir Arthur Bromley. The coronation was set to take place on 2 June.

1. Queen Sālote of Tonga: The Story of an Era 1900–1965 by Elizabeth Wood-Ellem p.239
2. Queen Sālote of Tonga: The Story of an Era 1900–1965 by Elizabeth Wood-Ellem p.239
3. Queen Sālote of Tonga: The Story of an Era 1900–1965 by Elizabeth Wood-Ellem p.240
4. Queen Sālote of Tonga: The Story of an Era 1900–1965 by Elizabeth Wood-Ellem p.240
5. Queen Sālote of Tonga: The Story of an Era 1900–1965 by Elizabeth Wood-Ellem p.240