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| George Tupou v with Charles Billich |
The Shuttle met him late last year at the Charles Billich Gallery in The Rocks in Sydney where he attended the unveiling of his portrait.
Sadly the King of Tonga, George Tupou V passed away on Sunday from cancer which developed after complications from a kidney transplant. George was regarded as a reforming monarch after relinquishing most of his powers to an elected parliament and selling the only source of the families wealth-Tonga's electricity supply company, to the nation.
Noted for favouring uniforms and plumed hats, sometimes top hats and a monocle and travelling in the Royal Limousine, a London taxi, he is survived by his younger brother and heir Crown Prince Tupouto'a Lavaka,
