Sinaitakala Fakafanua


Sinaitakala Tukuʻaho, Crown Princess of Tonga is a member of the Tongan royal family and the wife of Crown Prince Tupoutoʻa ʻUlukalala, her second cousin, whom she married on 12 July 2012.

Family

Princess Sinaitakala is the daughter of late Kinikinilau Tūtoatasi, 7th Lord Fakafānua and estate holder of Ma'ufanga, and Princess Sinaitakala ʻOfeina ʻe he Langi, Lady Fakafānua. She has two brothers, current 8th Lord Fakafānua, Fatafehi Kinikinilau Lolomānaʻia and Fakaola mei Langi ʻItafuaʻatonga Tūtoatasi Fakafānua.
Through her mother, she is a member of the Tongan royal family and, of her right, in line to the country's throne.

Marriage

Controversy

The marriage caused controversy in Tonga, since Fakafānua and Crown Prince Tupoutoʻa ʻUlukalala are double second cousins. That is, her parents are each the first cousin of the King:
The wedding was opposed by some members of the royal family, reportedly due to the close genetic relationship of the couple. Most notable in opposition to the wedding was Hon. Frederica Filipe who took to the media and social media to voice opposition to the marriage.

Wedding ceremony

[Wedding of Crown Prince of Tonga|Crown Prince Tupoutoʻa ʻUlukalala and Sinaitakala Fakafanua|Sinaitakala Fakafanua married the Crown Prince] at the Centenary Church of the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga in Nuku'alofa on 12 July 2012. The wedding marked the first marriage of a Tongan crown prince in sixty-five years. Sinaitakala was 25 years old at the time of her wedding.

Issue

Her son, Prince Taufaʻahau Manumataongo, was born on 10 May 2013 and is second in the line of succession to the Tongan throne, after his father. On 12 July 2014, the Crown Princess gave birth to a daughter, Princess Halaevalu Mataʻaho who is third in the line of succession. On 20 March 2018, her 31st birthday, Crown Princess Sinaitakala gave birth to her third child and second daughter, Princess Nanasipauʻu Eliana, at the Auckland City Hospital in New Zealand. On 25 February 2021, Crown Princess Sinaitakala gave birth to her fourth child and third daughter, Princess Salote Mafile’o Pilolevu, at the Calvary Hospital in Canberra.

Honours