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Prime Minister Helen Clark obeyed royal protocol and wore a full length skirt to the coronation of the new Tongan King.
Guests for the coronation were asked to wear formal attire _ full-length gowns and long gloves for women, and full dress uniform or morning dress and top hats for men.
Most,including the Prime Minister, went for a more understated yet elegant look.
A spokeswoman said the protocol had also suggested "national dress" and the Prime Minister had decided to dress as she would for an extremely formal occasion in New Zealand.
The Prime Minister was criticised by royalists in 2002 for wearing trousers to a state banquet for Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip during their visit to New Zealand.
By tradition, a formal skirt or dress was usual, and the Queen wore a full length, embroidered cream gown with a diamond tiara.
Helen Clark's trouser suit was interpreted by some in the British press as a sign of her republican leanings.
At yesterday's coronation Helen Clark wore a tailored blue-green silk jacket and full-length black layered skirt, designed by Jane Daniels.
The newly crowned King George Tupou V had asked the Prime Minister to sit next to him for the official coronation photo with heads of state and other dignitaries.
The Prime Minister has long been a fan of Jane Daniels, and often wears skirts in her everyday work.
