Royal Palace of Nukuʻalofa, Royal residence in Nuku'alofa, Tonga

The Royal Palace of Nukuʻalofa is a long white wooden building with a red corrugated iron roof, set behind a green lawn in the northwest of the capital near the Pacific Ocean. At its centre a square tower rises, capped by a red domed roof with a small white balustrade and a flagpole. Gabled roofs with decorative white trim top the facade, where a two-storey veranda with white lattice balustrades and posts runs along the front.

The residence was built in 1867 for the Tongan monarchy and has served every reigning sovereign since. In 1990 the original sacred stone barrier was replaced with a three-meter-high metal fence to improve security.

Tongan poets traditionally use coded names like Fanga-tapu, Loto-'ā or 'Ā-maka in their verses instead of referring directly to the residence. This poetic practice reflects the deep reverence people hold toward the royal family.

The residence can only be viewed from outside along the waterfront area of the capital, as the interior and grounds remain closed to visitors. The best views of the building are available from the road and adjacent public areas along the coast.

Tongans rarely name the palace directly; poets use heliaki allegories such as Fanga-tapu ("sacred beach") for the shoreline in front of it, Loto-ʻā ("inside the fence") and ʻĀ-maka ("stone fence"). The old metre-high stone wall was held so sacred that no one dared sit on it, let alone cross it.