Tonga's King George Tupou V was crowned in a grand ceremony in its capital Nuku'alofa on Friday.
The king, 60, was crowned on a 2.5-meter-high golden throne amid a 21-cannon salute and the tolling of church bells, the Pacnews regional news agency reported.
King George V was attired in a scarlet coronation robe trimmed with white ermine fur, especially bought from London.
Around 1,000 guests attended the coronation inside the Centenary Free Wesleyan Church of the South Pacific island kingdom. Hundreds more sat outside.
Also present was his younger brother, Crown Prince Tupouto'a Lavaka Ata and his mother, Queen Halaevalu Mata'aho and other members of the royal family.
Foreign guests included British Queen's representative the Dukeand Duchess of Gloucester, the Crown Prince of Japan and Princess Sirindhorn of Thailand, New Zealand Maori King Tuheitia, New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark and at least seven Pacific Island nations' heads of state or government. Chinese President Hu Jintao's special envoy Wang Yongqiu also attended the ceremony.
The ceremony was presided by Suva-based Archbishop of Polynesia, Bishop Jabez Bryce. The Archbishop of Polynesia, who anointed him with oil and placed the large gold crown on his head, called on the King to rule "wisely, justly and truly."
"Thou sanctify George Tupou this as a sign of royal majesty," Bishop Jabez said.
He proclaimed the King had been anointed, blessed and consecrated as Tonga's new king.
Outside, thousands of students at Queen Salote College sat along the route to the church from the palace, with the road covered with tap a cloth fitted for the King.
As the king left the church, guests clapped and onlookers cheered affirming their loyalty and support for their new king.
Throughout the small island kingdom, its national colors of red and white draped from buildings and shops along the city bearing congratulatory messages "God Bless Your Majesty" and "Long Live the King."
Friday has been declared a public holiday in Tonga to celebrate the historical coronation of King George V.
The coronation was originally scheduled for last year, but was delayed because of riots in late 2006 which left eight people dead and dozens of buildings looted and burned.
The new king has already announced plans to move Tonga to a more democratic system of government
The last coronation was held in 1967 when the late King George Tonga crowned new king.
Source:Xinhua
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