Lavish Coronation Robes Pictured on Stamps

Reporter Michael Field of Fairfax Media reports that the lavish robes to be used in Friday's coronation of Tonga's King George Tupou V are pictured on new postage stamps designed by a Wellington, New Zealand illustrator.

According to Michael, "Tonga is spending T$5 million (NZ$3 million) on the coronation of the aging bachelor, including NZ$570,000, for tailored robes from Gieves & Hawkes at 1 Savile Row in London's Mayfair."

He goes on to say, "By tradition such robes are trimmed with ermine which comes from winter stoats and is used as a symbol of purity or virginity."

Wellington designer Denise Durkin has produced designs for three stamps to be released on Friday.

"The king is unmarried, and has no legal children. However, he has an illegitimate daughter, ʻIlima Lei Tohi, and through her, he is already a grandfather," according to Wikipedia.

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