Tonga marked the funeral of its late King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV with a blend of Christian and traditional rituals.

One thousand pallbearers took the coffin from the royal palace, where the king had been lying in state for five days.

They carried the coffin on a black catafalque to the royal burial grounds, Mala'e Kula, 500m away.

Students lined the procession route as a 21-gun artillery salute was fired across the Tongan capital Nuku'alofa.

Mourners wore black and traditional ta'ovala grass mats.

Once the coffin was lowered into the tomb, royal undertakers carried out an ancient rite - filling the grave with sand they carried in woven baskets.

The new King Siaosi Tupou V wore the uniform of the Tongan armed forces for his father's funeral.

Dignitaries from 30 countries attended, including New Zealand's Prime Minister Helen Clark.

Japan's Crown Prince Naruhito also attended, sitting here beside the late king's widow, Queen Halaevalu Mata'aho.

King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV was much loved in Tonga, having reigned for 41 years before his death at the age of 88.