Story Highlights
- Historical event:
- 4 June 1970
- The largest island of the Kingdom of Tonga is called Tongatapu and has a land area of about 257 square kilometers.
On this day in 1970 Tonga gained full independence from the British. Today, Tonga is the smallest independent kingdom in the world, measuring 748 square kilometers.
All other independent monarchies that are smaller than Tonga have rulers who are not kings, but hold a lower title (i.e. the Prince of Monaco).
Tonga was under the protectorate of Britain until 1970, although it already had local rulers with the title of king.
The island-kingdom is located in the Pacific Ocean, comprising of 176 islands, of which 52 are inhabited. The largest island of the Kingdom of Tonga is called Tongatapu and has a land area of about 257 square kilometers.
The majority of the national population lives on the island of Tongatapu, where the main royal palace is also located (it is built of wood and near the Pacific coast).
