Poverty-stricken Tonga forgets its woes for a day as king is crowned in lavish ceremony

Witnessed by royalty from around the world, the ruler of the tiny Pacific nation of Tonga was finally crowned today after an 18-month delay.

King George Tupou V, known to the locals as G5, had to put off his coronation when buildings were burned and eight people died shortly after his appointment in 2006 as rioters demanded political reform and an end to poverty.

But today thousands turned out in the streets to wave flags and shout their congratulations as the newly crowned bachelor king - Tonga's 23rd monarch - rode by in an open limousine, smiling at his subjects, many of whom had never seen him in the flesh before.