Royalty from all over the world and regional political leaders arrived in the tiny Pacific state of Tonga on Thursday in order to attend the sumptuous coronation of King Siaosi Tupou V.

The king, known as George Tupou V in English, is due to be crowned on Friday in a ceremony in which he will confront the tropical conditions wearing a scarlet velvet coronation robe embroidered in white ermine fur.

Approximately 1,400 public figures will take part in the coronation of the 60-year-old king in Nuku'alofa, counting Japanese Crown Prince Naruhito, Thai Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn and Britain’s Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, as reported by AFP.

The expense of the celebrations reaches more than five million Tongan dollars (approximately U.S. $2.5 million) and was a subject of severe criticism in a country where poverty is widespread and practically a quarter of the population lives under the poverty line.

In spite of the general disapproval, Tongan Prime Minister Feleti Sevele explained that the money was being well spent. “It is very important for us, it is the first occasion for us in the last 41 years since the last coronation to celebrate and an important stage in our development into the 21st century,” he informed the press on Thursday, according to AFP.

Tonga’s capital, Nuku'alofa, has been converted since a rebellion in November two years ago claimed eight deaths and left approximately 60 percent of the central business area ruined and demolished. The riot, initiated by a political reform rally, came only two months after Siaosi took power following the death of his father Taufa'ahau Tupou IV.

The coronation which had been scheduled to take place last year was suspended as the country recovered from the riot.