The Tongan King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV passed away early this morning. Tonga is currently the only constitutional monarachy still in existence; this means that the king holds a heavy influence in government, yet there's also a level of aristocracy (nobles), elected officials, and people still have basic constitutional rights.
Tupoud IV was the king for the past 42 years and with his passing, politics will heavily shift. The last time a King passed away, businesses were shut down for 6 months (which is also the timeframe that everyone in Tonga needs to wear black clothes). Time to go shopping for a few more black shirts...
Kinda funny thing I read....
ReplyDeleteBefore his death, Tupou IV's 41-year reign made him one of world's longest-serving sovereigns.
At age 14, the future king was one of Tonga's top athletes; he could pole vault more than 9 feet, played tennis, cricket, rugby and also rowed competitively in a racing skiff.
But like many of his countrymen he became obese, and remained so for most of his adult life.
In the 1990s, Tupou IV led his 108,000 people on a diet and exercise regime aimed at cutting the levels of fat in a nation where coconut flesh and mutton flaps are dietary staples.
From a weight listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the heaviest for any monarch _ 462 pounds _ the king shed around 154 pounds.
Maybe you could be the new king? Billy for king!!!!!!! =)