Royal Order of Pouono
Royal Order of Pouono Ko e Fakalangilangi ‘o Pouono | |
---|---|
Awarded by King of Tonga Award of | |
Type | Order of Merit |
Royal house | House of Tupou |
Awarded for | The Monarch, Consort, and children of the Monarch of Tonga and also foreign Heads of State |
Status | Currently constituted |
Sovereign | King Tupou VI |
Grades | Knight Grand Cross with Collar (KGCCP) |
Statistics | |
Established | 1893 |
Precedence | |
Next (higher) | None |
Next (lower) | Order of King George Tupou I |
Ribbon of the order |
The Royal Order of Pouono is the highest knighthood order of the Kingdom of Tonga.
History
The Order was established in 1893 by King George Tupou II.[1] It is awarded by His Majesty, The Sovereign to foreign Heads of State only.[2]
Class
The Order consists of a single class: Knight Grand Cross with Collar.[2] Its post-nominal letters are KGCCP.[3]
Insignia
The insignia consists of a Grand Collar with a Badge, a Star, a Sash with a Badge
The Grand Collar of the Order is a double gold chain set with a white enamel 6-pointed gold edged star (centre-piece), with on either side moving upwards; a white enamel dove in flight, three crossed swords in gold, a 6-pointed white enamel & gold edged star. From it hangs the Collar Badge, a white enamel gold edged Maltese cross pendant from a gold Tongan crown, The gold central medallion has the "Pouono fale" (a six posted house) also in gold. The red enamel riband has the National motto "KO E ‘OTUA TONGA KO HOKU TOFI’A" (sometimes written as "KOE OTUA MOTOGA KO HOKU TOFIA" due to a manufacturing error) in gold capital letters, in the base is a spray of gold laurel.
The Plaque is a gold 7-armed cross (each arm has seven finger-rays, the first & seventh being the same length, the second & sixth being smaller than the first etc., the third & fifth being smaller than the others, and the fourth is the smallest ray). The white enamel central medallion has a golden "Pouono fale". The red riband has the gold National motto in capital letters, with a spray of gold laurel in the base.
The ribbon is a 102mm moire scarlet/light-cream/scarlet/light-cream/scarlet sash (proportions 6/20/50/20/6mm) [2]
References
- ↑ The Royal Ark
- 1 2 3 John Duncan McMeekin's summary
- ↑ "Gentleman's Military Interest Club" Forum Tonga Orders