'Ilima Lei Tohi
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Ilima Lei Fifita Tohi (born 1974), also known since her marriage as 'Ilimalei Kalaniuvalu, is the illegitimate daughter of King George Tupou V
of Tonga
.
Ilima lived in Fasi mo e afi, attended Queen Salote College, and on December 2, 1997, married Tulutulumafua i Olotele Kalaniuvalu, a police officer
from Lapaha, with whom she has three children. The previous king of Tonga, her grandfather, Tāufaāhau Tupou IV
, and other members of the Royal Family, attended her wedding in the Free Wesleyan Church of Fasi mo e afi. As of 2007, Ilima is working at the Tongan ministry of training, employment, youth and sports.
Although the king is unmarried and has no legal heir, Tongan constitution and culture dictate that it is not possible for him to raise his illegitimate daughter to higher ranks in the monarchy. The articles in the constitution of Tonga regarding the country's line of succession
state clearly that only a child of a legal marriage can succeed the throne of his or her parent. Additionally, in traditional Tongan culture
, one may inherit land and status from one's father, but one's rank in society is determined solely by one's mother. In a hypothetical situation in which a beggar marries a queen and has a son who chooses to follow in his father's footsteps, Tongan culture dictates that the son would sit as a royal among the chiefs of the country. In practice, of course, high-ranking women will only marry high status chiefs and vice versa, because to do otherwise is illegal. In a hypothetical situation that is reversed, for example a prince marries a woman of no rank, the child would be like any other commoner of the country in the eyes of the country's chiefs, even if he became rich and influential businessman.
Ilima Lei Fifita Tohi (born 1974), also known since her marriage as 'Ilimalei Kalaniuvalu, is the illegitimate daughter of King George Tupou V
George Tupou V
George Tupou V , is the current King of Tonga.-Early life:...
of Tonga
Tonga
Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga , is a state and an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising 176 islands scattered over of ocean in the South Pacific...
.
Ilima lived in Fasi mo e afi, attended Queen Salote College, and on December 2, 1997, married Tulutulumafua i Olotele Kalaniuvalu, a police officer
Police officer
A police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...
from Lapaha, with whom she has three children. The previous king of Tonga, her grandfather, Tāufaāhau Tupou IV
Taufa'ahau Tupou IV
Tāufaāhau Tupou IV, King of Tonga, GCMG, GCVO, KBE, KStJ son of Queen Sālote Tupou III and her consort Prince Viliami Tungī Mailefihi, was the king of Tonga from the death of his mother in 1965 until his own death in 2006...
, and other members of the Royal Family, attended her wedding in the Free Wesleyan Church of Fasi mo e afi. As of 2007, Ilima is working at the Tongan ministry of training, employment, youth and sports.
Although the king is unmarried and has no legal heir, Tongan constitution and culture dictate that it is not possible for him to raise his illegitimate daughter to higher ranks in the monarchy. The articles in the constitution of Tonga regarding the country's line of succession
Line of succession to the Tongan Throne
The order of succession to the throne of Tonga is laid down in the 1875 constitution of the south Pacific island nation. This constitution specifies that the succession is confined to the descendants of King Siaosi Tāufaāhau Tupou I, through his son Crown Prince Tēvita Unga and his son Prince...
state clearly that only a child of a legal marriage can succeed the throne of his or her parent. Additionally, in traditional Tongan culture
Culture of Tonga
The Tongan archipelago has been inhabited for perhaps 3000 years, since settlement in late Lapita times. The culture of its inhabitants has surely changed greatly over this long time period. Before the arrival of European explorers in the late 17nd and early 18th centuries, the Tongans were in...
, one may inherit land and status from one's father, but one's rank in society is determined solely by one's mother. In a hypothetical situation in which a beggar marries a queen and has a son who chooses to follow in his father's footsteps, Tongan culture dictates that the son would sit as a royal among the chiefs of the country. In practice, of course, high-ranking women will only marry high status chiefs and vice versa, because to do otherwise is illegal. In a hypothetical situation that is reversed, for example a prince marries a woman of no rank, the child would be like any other commoner of the country in the eyes of the country's chiefs, even if he became rich and influential businessman.