Tonga hosts funeral to farewell King George Tupou V (PHOTOS)

A series of ceremonies is taking place in Tonga to mark the burial of the late King George Tupou V who died suddenly in Hong Kong last week.

Radio Australia reports that the funeral procession began at midday on Tuesday, local time, with thousands of people wearing black arm bands and traditional mourning dress lining the streets to watch.

It says that the procession left the Royal Palace in the capital Nuku'alofa and was expected to take several hours to reach the Royal Tombs just over 980 feet away. 

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Throughout the Pacific Island nation, flags are being flown at half-mast and building and fences in the capital have been draped in purple and black.

An AFP correspondent describes how the king's body spent Monday night in the throne room where locals observed an overnight vigil, and was this morning placed on a bier to be transported to the catacombs.

According to the official program, 1,000 pall bearers had been selected to carry the 63-year-old's casket to its final resting place.

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At the funeral service there were hymns, prayers and sermons, as well as the Last Post and Tongan national anthem, Australian Associated Press reports.

TVNZ says that the official mourning period, which was expected to run for 90 days, has been cut back to five days at the request of the crown prince Tupouto'a Lavaka Ata.

The prince, who accompanied his brother's body on the flight from Hong Kong to Tonga, will be crowned the new king at a time of his choosing, BBC explains.