Order of Queen Sālote Tupou III

The Order was established on 28 June 2008 by King George Tupou V to commemorate his grandmother, Queen Sālote Tupou III, who, during the 47 years of her government (5 April 1918 – 16 December 1965), had guided the state of Tonga to a substantial economical and social evolution. The Order has been created as the principal civil reward for meritorious personal services to the sovereign. Above all, it is awarded as a Family Order for Tongan & foreign Royal Families. ==Classes==

The Order consists of four classes: • Knight Grand Cross (K.C.Q.S.) - Collar, Star, Sash, Miniature & Rosette • Grand Cross (G.C.Q.S) - Sash, Star, Miniature & Rosette • Commander (C.Q.S.) - Necklet badge from a ribbon, Miniature & Rosette • Member (M.Q.S.) - Breast badge from a ribbon, Miniature & Rosette == Insignia ==

The ribbon for the two upper classes is a 102mm sky-blue-ultramarine Sash (Ladies Sash approx. 74mm) Knight Grand Cross The Collar is a double gold chain, the centre-piece looks like being a gold knot, tied with a ribbon in the base (also gold). Moving upwards from the centre-piece on either side, a gold dove with its wings displayed and turned slightly towards the centre, alternating with the golden knot of the centre-piece. The Collar Badge is a deep-blue enamelled Maltese cross with a white edge, between each arm is a golden dove (from the collar) with a fleur-de-lis at the dove's claws. The gold central medallion has a raised bust of Queen Salote Topou III, also in gold. The dark-blue riband probably has the name of the order in gold capital letters, above the cross is a gold Tongan crown. The Star is an 8-pointed silver, silver-gilt and enamel faceted star, with the collar badge superimposed in the centre (minus the crown). Grand Cross The Star is an 8-pointed silver and enamel star, the collar badge is placed overall in the centre, the dove and the fleurs-de-lis are silver. Commander The necklet badge is similar to the collar-badge except, that the central medallion is silver-gilt, the riband is dark-blue with the legend in gold capital letters, all suspended from a gold Tongan crown. The necklet ribbon is sky-blue-ultramarine and approx. 41mm . Member The breast badge is, as the Commander's class, in silver and enamel (above, except smaller and the suspended crown is silver). The breast ribbon is approximately 38 mm (as above). == Notable recipients ==

National recipients • King Tupou VI (18.03.2012 - ) : Grand Master - Knight Grand Cross (31.7.2008) • Crown Prince Tupoutoʻa ʻUlukalala : Knight Grand Cross (31.7.2008) • King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck of the Kingdom of Bhutan : Knight Grand Cross (14.5.2010) • Empress Masako of the State of Japan : Dame Grand Cross (4.7.2015) ==References==