Halaevalu Mataʻaho ʻAhomeʻe

Who is Halaevalu Mataʻaho ʻAhomeʻe?

Halaevalu Mata'aho is the mother of the deceased King George Tupou V and the reigning King Tupou VI of Tonga, as well as the widow of King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV, who died in 2006.

Halaevalu Mataʻaho ʻAhomeʻe was born on 29 May 1926, the oldest daughter of ‘Ahome’e and his wife, Heu'ifanga, a great granddaughter of the last King of the Tuʻi Tonga Empire. The Queen Mother is a descendent of Ma'afu. Halaevalu Mata'aho married her husband, Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV, on June 10, 1947. Taufa'ahau Tupou IV died in 2006.

The Queen Mother celebrated her 85th birthday in 2011 with a five day celebration held in May. The celebrations began with a Garden Party for more than one hundred Tongan women held at the home of the President of the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga, Rev. Dr. ‘Ahio. The Queen Mother attended a Catholic mass at St. Mary's Cathedral in Ma'ufanga with King Siaosi Tupou V on May 26, 2011. The Tongan Ministry of Education, Women Affairs and Culture held a student celebration for her birthday on May 27, with of primary school students from Pangai Lahi to Teufaiva Park, including presenting the Queen Mother with birthday gifts. A private party was held in Ha'avakatolo the next day, followed by a church service held at Centennial Church on Sunday, May 29, with a royal luncheon at the Royal Palace in Nukuʻalofa.