Nothing helps promote democracy in the Middle East quite like a coronation in a poverty-stricken country like Tonga. How touching and perfectly in line with our values. It was a Christian ceremony, after all.
George Tupou V has been crowned king of Tonga in the capital Nuku'alofa, marking the South Pacific state's first coronation in more than 40 years.
He was anointed with oil and had a gold crown placed on his head in the Christian ceremony, performed in a church before 1,000 guests.
The new monarch was called upon to rule "wisely, justly and truly".
Thousands of people had lined the route to the church and cheered when the new monarch emerged.
Earlier, Prime Minister Fred Sevele defended the lavish festivities marking the coronation saying that "the great majority of Tongans" would make no apologies for them
Officials say some 5.7m Tongan dollars (US$2.5m) have been spent on the event in a country where poverty is widespread.
