| Royal Order of the Crown of Tonga Ko e Fakalangilangi ‘o Kalauni ‘o Tonga | |
| Awarded By: | King of Tonga |
| Type: | Order of Merit |
| Motto: | KO'E 'OTUA MO TONGA KO HOKU TOFI'A. ("God and Tonga Are My Inheritance") |
| Eligibility: | Civilians and militaries, Tongan or foreigners |
| For: | Exceptional services to the State and the Crown |
| Status: | Currently constituted |
| Head Title: | Sovereign |
| Head: | King Tupou VI |
| House: | House of Tupou |
| Grades: | Knight Grand Cross Grand Cross Commander Member |
| Date: | 16 April 1913 |
| Higher: | Order of King George Tupou I |
| Lower: | Order of Queen Sālote Tupou III |
The Royal Order of the Crown of Tonga (Tongan: Fakalangilangi 'o Kalauni 'o Tonga) is an Order of Merit awarded for exceptional services to Tonga and the Crown of Tonga. Currently, it is the highest honor conferred by the Kingdom of Tonga (being the Royal Order of Pouono is inactive and the Order of King George Tupou I is currently dormant).
It was established 16 April 1913 by George Tupou II to reward those who distinguished themselves by exceptional services to the State and the Crown.[1] The Order was in four classes, and the insignia were designed and manufactured in Germany.[1] The first awards were made in August 1914, to the King, Queen ʻAnaseini Takipō and to F T Goedicke, the Chancellor of the Order.[2] Shortly afterwards word arrived of the outbreak of the First World War, and the king suspended further awards for the duration.[2] The Order was forgotten with Tupou's death in 1918.[1]
It was reorganized on 31 July 2008 by King George Tupou V, in particular relatively to all the classes of merit.[3] It can be awarded to militaries and civilians, native of Tonga or foreigner, without distinction of religion.
The order is presented in four classes:[4] [5]
The Sash for the two upper classes is a red moiré sash with a white stripe near each edge. Men's sash is 102mm wide (proportions : 2.5/14.5/68/14.5/2.5mm). Women's sash is 75mm wide (proportions : 1.5/10./51/10.5/1.5mm).
The Collar is a double gold chain, set with a 6-pointed white enamel gold edged star (centre-piece), with on either side moving upwards; a golden dove in flight, three gold crossed swords, a 6-pointed white enamel gold edged star. Hanging from it, a white enamel Maltese cross with a narrow gold edge, pendant from a gold Tongan crown. The red central medallion has a raised gold Tongan crown, the red riband has a gold legend in capital letters : KO'E 'OTUA MO TONGA KO HOKU TOFI'A. ("God and Tonga Are My Inheritance").
The Knight Grand Cross' Star / Plaque is a silver, silver-gilt & enamel 8-pointed faceted star with the collar-badge (minus the crown), placed in the centre.
Recipients include:
The Grand Cross' Star is a silver 8-pointed faceted star, with the collar-badge (minus the crown), placed in the centre.
The Commander’s Necklet Badge is a white badge with a gold crown worn from the neck on a ribbon, approx. 41mm wide, red with two white stripes near the edge (approximative proportions 1/5.5/28/5.5/1 mm). Recipients include:
The Member’s Badge is a breast badge (smaller than Commander's) worn from a similar 36mm ribbon (approximative proportions 6/6/12/6/6mm).