The Queen of Tonga I British Pathé

Do you know the Queen of Tonga? Although she died in 1965, British Pathé has lots of footage of Queen Salote. And during the Fifties, for a very brief moment, she was a celebrity. What do you know about her? Let us know in the comments!
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- CREDITS -
presented by: Indiana Neidell
written by: Indiana Neidell
camera and sound: Sound and Vision Studios, Sweden
editor: Michael Paul
A Mediakraft Networks GmbH production, 2014.
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SOURCES
Pictures:
- Flickr, by Hajotthu: bit.ly/1qzotYk
- Flickr, by Auckland Photo News Rodger McCutcheon: bit.ly/1pMPQMS
Used videos:
- Royal Opera Night (1953): • Royal Opera Night: 'Gl...
- Selected Originals - The Coronation Of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth (1953): • Selected Originals - T...
- Queen Salote In Sydney (1953): • Queen Salote In Sydney...
- Tonga Greets The Queen (1953): • Tonga Greets The Queen...
- The Royal Tour - Fiji And Tonga - Reel 2 Part 3 (1954): • The Royal Tour - Fiji ...
- This Is London Reel 1 And 2 (1950-1959): • This is London: The Ci...
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Pathé News was a producer of newsreels, cinemagazines, and documentaries from 1910 until 1976 in the United Kingdom. Its founder, Charles Pathé, was a pioneer of moving pictures in the silent era. The Pathé News archive is known today as "British Pathé". Its collection of news film and movies is fully digitised and available online.
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[@josiahfaith5244]

Actually when you mention, "Tonga never gave up it's sovereignty like Hawaii or Fiji". You need to be specific on what your saying. The Kingdom of Tonga was and is still the only Polynesian Kingdom that was never colonized by foreign ruler, they never loss self-governing indigenous rule. The Kingdom of Fiji was ceded to Queen Victoria of Great Britain by the Fijian Warlord/King Seru Epenisa Cakobau. And the Kingdom of Hawaii was taken from Queen Lili'uokalani and her people by force and annexed to the USA.

[@omggiiirl2077]

Josiah Faith Thank you for telling his misinformed self! Hawai'i was taken by force, and to this day us Native Kanaka Māoli still do not want to be Americans, we still back our beloved Queen Liliuokalani!!

[@WashingtonDC20032]

Hawaii did not "give up" its sovereignty. It was TAKEN by force with the help of the United States Marine Corp.

[@horsepuncher95]

Instead we gave our country to "god" which was the christian god, yes we kept our monarchs but adherence to christianity stamped out most of our tribal traditions, but now many of these are being revived tatatau (tattoos) included which i am glad to see.

[@epeli189]

Yes. That's true. The Kingdom of Tonga never gave up their kingdom to any foreign power. Fiji for instance, we GAVE us to Great Britain. Hawaii, was TAKEN away from them. Tonga on the other hand, KEPT themselves from exposing themselves to other authority.

[@TheLocalLt]

This comment makes zero sense. Isn’t this exactly what Indy said? Also Tonga was indeed annexed into the British Empire but as a protectorate, thus keeping its local kings as a vassal to the British, just as in British Zanzibar or British Johor.

[@ian_b]

My parents remembered the Coronation and the visit of the Queen Of Tonga, and said how much everyone loved her.

[@jaqenhghar2970]

if I recall there was a song made in her honor by a British band/singer?? I can't remember though.

[@elgee6202]

Why did everyone love her? How did they even know who she was? It's not as if she would've given interviews to the British press or had a big media focus for her to become well liked by the Brits.

[@ian_b]

@@elgee6202 It was a rainy day. The other visiting dignitaries huddled in covered coaches, but the Queen of Tonga braved the weather and waved to the crowds from her carriage. It caused a very great impression at the time and people never forgot her, because people like that kind of thing.

[@trellgold6998]

@@elgee6202 I think the people related to her more because she wasn't all up tight about riding her cart through the rain like all the others who had covered carts :)

[@khaleesi7139]

She was much revered by my people for her elegance, her class and her general warm and matriarchal demeanor. Riding in the carriage uncovered through the rain, was a mark of respect to Elizabeth on her coronation. She was a cultural preservationist and felt deeply about Tonga and their connection to the arts. Pre colonial contact; we did not use script or text - our songs and dance were our archives. Our stories. It held our histories, our family tree’s, our wars, our unions, our joys and our fears; and Salote helped revitalise this tradition.

[@TheLocalLt]

Indy Neidell and British Pathe is the ultimate historical crossover

[@filipomcgrath]

Queen Salote is an enduring image of proper fakatonga (The Tongan Way) ... what fabulous footage of home (even the bats!) and also of the mauluulu (one of the kinds of dance) - thanks BP

[@rubyliahona1420]

I am a proud Tongan!! I am glad for my queen

[@polynesianpride7845]

We have an amazing history our people do.

[@Kylieleon]

I love the presenter...he's being funny! I don't think he meant any disrespect to anyone. I live in Sydney and when the elderly Australians asked my of my origin, they always mentioned Queen Salote.

[@Compumavengal]

Okay, this is better than the way it was done before. The dude is giving context to the videos instead of it being an interruption/jump in the playlist. I know nothing about the Queen of Tonga so this is an appropriate introduction from the Pathe archives.

[@Compumavengal]

You have the option of going into thePathe archives and finding the whole subject video. The Sunday videos are a quick taste of a section of the archive. I watched the video where he explains that British Pathe wants to promote videos that have 1 or 2 views. There is some really obscure content and this is Pathe's way of trying to expand the audience.

[@veteangesiale9619]

I'm ignoring the presenter cause I feel proud 🇹🇴🇹🇴🇹🇴🇹🇴💯💯

[@rosshilton]

Veteange Siale and you have every reason to feel proud. I worked in the Pacific region some years ago, and spent time on Tonga. You cannot meet nicer or more friendly people anywhere in the world, and the main island is beautiful. Good memories of Reload bar and Bilfish :)

[@TheLostHistoryChannelTKTC]

Is that guy the owner of the channel? The old British narrator would have done just fine, Good to see the old footage though i think that guy should have a separate channel and engage with the audience in a Google hangout or something,

[@epeli189]

Imagine how annoying it is to watch his videos for our History class. Out Teacher actually thinks that this dude is "real good".

[@ianhomerpura8937]

Try checking The Great War and WW2 KZbin channels :)

[@TheLostHistoryChannelTKTC]

@@ianhomerpura8937 Thanks.

[@TiredCzech]

@@epeli189 bruh

[@setonix9151]

Well, the narrator is dead?

[@markagee4539]

It would be nice to watch the videos without the annoying guy popping up every ten seconds with some pointless comment.

[@teakale-williams3432]

Proud to be Tongan. Our wonderful QuEEn.

[@luxembourgishempire2826]

Came from their post.

[@horsepuncher95]

Malo 'aupito!! Proud to be Tongan, Salote was the best :')

[@ofaangao.6775]

Great video. Do you happen to have anymore footage of Tonga? Thanks.

[@epeli189]

the lady that came out of the car was not her!

[@asipesionaufinau5242]

Definitely not Queen Salote!

[@Themadpig]

Proud to be Tonga 🇹🇴

[@omggiiirl2077]

Sorry YOU ARE WRONG my beloved HAWAI'I WAS COLONIZED BY FORCE!!! We Kanaka Māoli consider our home to be an illegally occupied Kingdom, because it was snatched from our Queen Liliuokalani's royal hand under force and threat from the US military. She ceded our Sovereign Kingdom at gun point, and was locked in the basement of her own palace until her death. Get your facts right. To this day, Native Hawaiians still resent the USA and it's government for what it did in the past and what it is doing today!! Amerikkka doesn't take care of us, they just take from us, and destroy our beloved home. Please stop spreading lies.

[@ian_b]

Yes, a shameful annexation by the USA, who still like to pretend they don't do Imperialism.

[@fhakalo]

Flying foxes (taunga peka) is one of the historical site in Tonga.

[@jezza6991]

N

[@halflatino]

New Zealand has a Maori monarchy, while having no legal/constitutional role in that country, and not being a hereditary monarchy but an elective one, it serves an important role in that Polynesian country's indigenous community.

[@oldtykesmith2317]

It will never die in my mind. I recall it very well, and the special song.. As a Child she filled me with wonder I still hold great affection for her memory.

[@kamir4752]

I dont believe you need your grandma to tell you that. Its all in the footages...

[@acmcgowan751]

Beautiful Tonga and Island of so of the most humble people I'm all the world. They are beautiful inside and thier humility, one can see it.

[@ShiiitIDK]

Beautiful Queen of Tonga.

[@alexgliniecki9355]

I like this narrator! Keep up the good work!

[@jeppstudio2004]

I think Queen Salote was taller than the Queen & the Duke of Edinburgh

[@bcgrote]

Interesting! The Queen of Tonga here looks almost like the Queen of England did in the 90's - 2000's! Flying foxes are AWESOME! They are gravely endangered now, so I wouldn't be too afraid of bats that are nearly 5 feet long. They eat fruit and bugs, you'd be fairly safe!

[@KayKastum]

Let's Tonga!

[@siafhusni4599]

thank you for accepting my friendship

[@em6577]

Aww wow... thanks for this...I am English...I love hearing all about things like this🥰

[@keewaibk7947]

My beautiful Queen .

[@mrbigarms]

That guy is so irritating! spoiling and distracting from the wonderful footage on offer.

[@sevenblessed2543]

You have all these queens but Queen Liliuokalani of Hawaii, How about showing the queen of Hawaii please 🙏

[@Kateaoana]

Beautiful Tonga !!!!

[@_TJ97]

Why is there a shouty American on a British Pathe video

[@ZXC5000]

god bless her late majesty

[@diok9682]

❤

[@captainpeyton6378]

Oh is installed this the great war guy wow

[@PrincessHarlotte]

OG Queen!

[@poppypocket8732]

The British narrator can pronounceTonga correctly, the American's can never get it right. Also they can't pronounce Hawaii correctly either.

[@arrakisspicetrader8794]

WTF? Is this what happens when Pathe sell off their stock

[@sb6678]

The annoying guy who said that his grandmother shared a car with the Queen of Tonga sounds a bit far fetched and made up and how disrespectful of him to refer to the Monarch by simply their Christian name, the title of Queen (or King) should always be prefixed by Queen (or King) or the title of Her (His) Majesty Queen (King) and then the Christian name. Finally, his pronunciation of Tonga is incorrect

[@makeorwellfictionagain6667]

Who cares? Lmao

[@sb6678]

@@makeorwellfictionagain6667 oh do shut up

[@ian_b]

Can't speak for Tongans but here in the UK we routinely described the monarch just by their name (and number).

[@dezlofipo2602]

Nofo ki lalo Koe da I koe😂😂😂😂

[@billtroop4236]

The historical footage is good but the presenter is annoying and his script is patronizing.

[@selenaquteee2135]

he is pronouncing tonga wrong and salote wrong !!!

[@h4rmony600]

🤙🏽🤙🏽

[@marlonbrandoseyes1443]

Queen Elizabeth was such a cutie

[@CelticSaint]

I don't wish to be rude. But, why is an American man introducing this?? This is British Pathé. Not American Pathé. I'm sure America has some very fine old newsreels of it's own. Is this a veiled attempt to undermine British Pathé? To cheapen it somehow? I would be more understanding if he wasn't talking as though if he were introducing a wrestling match.

[@TheNeedlefactory]

hes Canadian, commonwealth innit

[@boydgrandy5769]

I'm pretty sure that it would be impossible for an American to cheapen British newsreel archives to the extent that Britain herself has done. The narrator is Canadian. We Americans have only corrupted his manner of speech and hopefully his politics.

[@fazoolgamingnintendogamer8219]

His grandmother is british.

[@POLyGiRL208]

Dawn I qui Wii ll AHQ 247b95f89I'll

[@connormoore8997]

FazoolGAMING I think yoel find you mean enlgish

[@laisiasamerumeru8230]

So so typical Palagi attitude!

[@Jucacamoes1]

funeral king tonga

[@kalanipeamusic1]

Hawai'i never gave up our sovereignty. We are still being illegally occupied by America. Get your facts straight. Pono keia 'ano na'auao i loko ou. E ho'ona'auao au ia 'oe!

[@omggiiirl2077]

The other island nations didn't "give up" thier sovereignty. They had it taken from them. Please understand the words you use can distort the reality of history. Hawai'i especially didn't give our sovereignty and Native Hawaiians are still fighting for self determination and our home restored to our authority. And please do not leave comments that Hawai'i would be someone else's colony if not the USA's. People act as if Hawai'i is sime feeble backwater country that has nothing when in fact before US rule, 'Iolani palace had lights and indoor plumbing before the Whitehouse did, Honolulu even had electricity. Also the people were more literate and slavery was abolished. Now look at how Hawaiians have been treated in our own home. Please don't do that. Tonga was very smart and lucky in how it dealt with the colonial powers, but it could have very well fallen prey if those same nations decided to set eyes upon the island nation.

[@fifitaleone3279]

koe lahi ae rainbow koe lahi ia rain money in the bank a ford McQueen rain okay .

[@ameliafifita8772]

Tupou 2 lovania