LIGHT FROM TOMORROW
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[GMT-7] San Jose, California
[GMT+13] Kingdom of Tonga


JULY 21
(GMT +13) / NUKU'ALOFA
Day breaks with sub tropical precision at 7am. We are in the second of five days of mourning h in Tonga tomorrow. Not for our lost bag but for the king's cousin and wife killed in a traffic accident some two weeks ago in California. Both bodies were part of our plane's load yesterday and the whole Tongan royal family had met Air New Zealand flight twenty seven with brass band and military detail.  
By midday the capital's streets are lined with school children describing the route to the funeral and then royal tomb and final resting place of HRH Prince Tu'ipelehale and Princess Kaimana. A taxi driver explains to us that Tu'ipelehale was known to Tongans as, 'The People's Prince' for his efforts towards a more democratic state. It is also the first time in Tongan history a Prince and Princess have died together.

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