Queen Sālote had left Tonga for the final time on 4 November 1965.
She had been diagnosed with lung and bone cancer in 1964, and her sons had urged her to return to New Zealand for more treatment.
On 19 October, she returned to the palace one last time. Three days later, Queen Elizabeth II appointed her Grand Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George, making her the first woman in the British Empire to receive this honour. On 31 October, she received the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper.1 Afterwards, she said, “I do not know what will happen, but it makes no difference. I have realised that the time may be short, and my thoughts have dwelt upon the approaching event. […]Long ago, I committed my life to Christ. My readiness is not my doing; I trust in the redeeming work of Jesus. Whenever the call comes, I am ready to answer my name.”2
Her granddaughter, Princess Pilolevu, later said, “Some people didn’t want to face the fact that she was genuinely ill. It was their fear that with illness, they would lose her.”3
On 4 November 1965, Queen Sālote travelled to Fiji on an aircraft specifically requested by Queen Elizabeth II from the government of New Zealand. Silent crowds sat by the side of the 21-kilometre-long road to Fua’amoto airport to watch the departure of their Queen. They could not speak openly about her coming death, but everyone knew that she was dying and that this would be the last time they would see her. She was photographed sitting in a wheelchair shortly before boarding the plane. She was joined by, among others, Lepa Kup, who was her maternal uncle and her closest living relative on her mother’s side. He accompanied her to Auckland to “symbolically fulfil his duties to her at her death.”4
Another plane, another request from Queen Elizabeth II from the British Government, took her to Auckland. They moved into ‘Atalanga, the royal residence in Auckland. During her last days at ‘Atalanga, many people came to visit, such as old childhood friends. All of the royal family planned to spend Christmas together in Auckland.
She received some deep-ray treatment in November, but the cancer was already too far advanced for it to have any effect. She told her daughter-in-law, Princess Melenaite, “You can never choose a better time to go [than] when everyone is here. When the new year comes, we’ll start with new things.”5
On 12 December, she was admitted to Aotea Hospital after collapsing with chest complications and pleurisy. According to Dr Gilmour, she was now failing rapidly. She was a little better the following day, but collapsed again. She was very quiet as the end neared, according to her nurse.
She died on 16 December 1965 at 12.15 a.m. Her youngest son and his wife were with her, but the Crown Prince and Princess arrived two hours after the Queen died, after their plane was delayed. News reached Tonga through a radio broadcast at 10 a.m.
Queen Elizabeth II remembered her fellow Queen for a long time. In 2018, when the Duke and Duchess of Sussex visited Tonga, she asked him to read a personal message. It said, ” Your Majesties, it gives me great pleasure that my grandson and his wife are visiting the Kingdom of Tonga. Our two families have enjoyed a deep and warm friendship over many years, and I hope that our close relationship continues with the next generation. To this day, I remember with fondness Queen Salote’s attendance at my own Coronation, while Prince Philip and I have cherished memories from our three wonderful visits to your country in 1953, 1970 and 1977. In the months and years ahead, I wish Your Majesties and the people of Tonga every good fortune and happiness.”6
- Queen Sālote of Tonga: The Story of an Era 1900–1965 by Elizabeth Wood-Ellem p.289
- Queen Sālote of Tonga: The Story of an Era 1900–1965 by Elizabeth Wood-Ellem p.289
- Sālote: Queen of Paradise by Margaret Hixon p.192
- Sālote: Queen of Paradise by Margaret Hixon p.194
- Queen Sālote of Tonga: The Story of an Era 1900–1965 by Elizabeth Wood-Ellem p.290
- Town and Country
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