Their Majesties King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipauʻu, accompanied by HRH Crown Prince Tupoutoʻa ʻUlukalala, visited the Kingdom of Thailand from 24 October to 1 November 2026 to pay their respects on the first anniversary of the passing of Her late Majesty Queen Sirikit, The Queen Mother of Thailand, who died on 24 October 2025.
The Crown Prince attended upon Their Majesties during the visit and also undertook official engagements in his capacity as Minister for HM Diplomatic Services and Minister for HM Armed Forces.
The Tongan Royal Family was welcomed at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport by M.L. Panadda Diskul, a Privy Councillor representing the King of Thailand, together with senior officials of the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Royal Visit to the Grand Palace
On 28 October 2026, Their Majesties and the Crown Prince visited the Grand Palace in Bangkok, where the Crown Prince signed the Royal Book of Condolence before the Royal Family proceeded to the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall to lay wreaths and pay their respects to the late Queen Sirikit.
The Royal Family also paid tribute to the late Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendiradebyavati at the Phiman Rattaya Throne Hall.
The visit reflected the longstanding friendship and close personal ties between the Royal Houses of Tonga and Thailand, which have been maintained through successive generations.
Diplomatic Relations and Previous Royal Visits
Diplomatic relations between the Kingdoms of Tonga and Thailand were established on 27 July 1994, building upon longstanding friendship and mutual respect between the two monarchies.
The relationship has been strengthened through a series of royal exchanges. King George Tupou V visited Thailand in 2007 and was subsequently received by King Bhumibol Adulyadej in January 2008. HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn represented the Thai monarch at the Coronation of King George Tupou V in Nukuʻalofa in August 2008.
King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipauʻu also visited Thailand in 2013 and returned in October 2017 to attend the Royal Cremation Ceremony of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, reflecting the close ties between the two Royal Families.
Beyond royal relations, Thailand and Tonga have developed cooperation in education, agriculture, healthcare, tourism and sustainable development.
Thailand has supported development initiatives in Tonga, including an agricultural cooperation project introduced in 2014 based on the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s Sufficiency Economy Philosophy. The project, located within the Royal Palace grounds in Nukuʻalofa, promotes sustainable agricultural practices and food security.
In August 2025, a senior Thai delegation led by Deputy Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs Paisan Rupanichkij visited Tonga, where discussions with the Crown Prince and Tongan officials focused on strengthening development cooperation, particularly in agriculture and food security.
Bilateral Discussions and Visa Exemption Agreement
On 29 October 2026, HRH Crown Prince Tupoutoʻa ʻUlukalala met Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sihasak Phuangketkeow, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangkok.
Their discussions addressed opportunities to strengthen cooperation in development assistance, tourism, humanitarian affairs and regional matters of mutual interest.
Following the meeting, the two ministers signed an agreement providing reciprocal visa exemptions for holders of diplomatic and official passports. Once in force, the agreement will permit eligible passport holders to visit the other country for up to 90 days within a 180-day period, facilitating future official exchanges.
The Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs subsequently hosted a luncheon in honour of the Crown Prince and Minister for HM Diplomatic Services.
Cooperation in Healthcare and Education
On 30 October 2026, Queen Nanasipauʻu and the Crown Prince visited Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom Province, where they were received by the University’s President, Professor Piyamitr Sritara, and representatives of the Thailand International Cooperation Agency.
Discussions focused on opportunities for cooperation in healthcare, including kidney treatment, medical training, dentistry, physiotherapy and palliative care, as well as agricultural development and cocoa cultivation.
The visit highlighted the potential for closer institutional cooperation between Thailand and Tonga, particularly in areas supporting healthcare capacity, education and sustainable development.
The Royal Visit combined an important expression of sympathy and respect for the Thai Royal Family with further diplomatic engagements,strengthening the longstanding friendship between both kingdoms.
Official Sources and Photographs
- Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Royal Visit, 24 October–1 November 2026
- Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Visa Exemption Agreement, 29 October 2026
- Thailand International Cooperation Agency – Visit to Tonga, August 2025
- Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Royal Cremation of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, October 2017
- Matangi Tonga – Royal Visit to Bangkok, October 2026
- Consulate-General of Tonga in Portugal – Courtesy Visit to the Thai Ambassador, October 2025
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