KEY POINTS:
George Tupou V has been formally crowned the King of Tonga in a ceremony as stiff with tradition as the monarch's trademark starched military uniforms.
The king was anointed with oil and a large gold crown was placed on his head.
The coronation, which included singing by a choir of more than 300, was the first in Tonga since 1967 when King George V's father, the late King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV, ascended to the throne.
King George V sat on a large golden throne in the capital's Centenary Church in front of 1,000 guests, as the Archbishop of Polynesia Jabez Bryce proclaimed he had been "anointed, blessed and consecrated" as king of the South Pacific nation's king. He called on him to rule "wisely, justly and truly."
Yesterday the King showed a softer side as he wiped away tears during a special visit to a Tongan teenager who is terminally ill with cancer.
Tae Kami, 15, could have gone to the coronation but for her failing health. Instead, the King went to her, presenting Tae with a medal of valour.
Tae, whose battle with horrific mouth cancer has featured in the Herald over the past three years, played for the King on her guitar. She sang him a song she wrote - Walk on, walk strong - and told him it was her coronation gift.
Wiping away tears, he said it was the best gift he had received. He gave her a laptop, so she could put her photos on it, and a cellphone.
Earlier yesterday, the King bestowed other medals in a royal honours investiture ceremony.
A royal dinner was held at Liukava last night, hosted by Crown Prince Tupoutoa-Lavaka and Princess Nanasipauu Tukuaho for distinguished guests from overseas, including Prime Minister Helen Clark.
The dance entertainment was performed by Tongan students from three Auckland secondary schools.
Guests at today's coronation were asked to wear the most formal attire. For men, that means full dress uniforms, or morning dress, and top hats. The women must wear full-length gowns and long gloves.
At the coronation ball the men are required to wear a white tie and tails while the women will wear full-length ball gowns and tiaras. Plastic tiaras usually worth only a couple of dollars were selling in Nuku'alofa yesterday for over 10 times that. Tomorrow there will be a birthday parade, royal feast, and traditional entertainment.
THE BIG DAY
* 10 am-11am: Coronation service at Centenary Church, Nuku'alofa (includes annointing, investiture, putting on of the crown and enthroning, conducted by the Archbishop of Polynesia).
* 1pm: Royal luncheon at the palace, hosted by Prime Minister Feleti Sevele.
* 7pm: A tupakapakanava, or traditional torch spectacle, on the northern shores of Nuku'alofa, and nearby islets, an ancient traditional honour accorded only to the royal family.
* 7-9pm: A charity concert and fireworks display at His Majesty's Naval Base, Masefield.
* 10pm: Coronation ball at The Villa royal residence.
- With AP
