King of Tonga Dies at 63

King George Tupou V of Tonga has died in a Hong Kong hospital Sunday, the Tongan government reported on Monday. He was 63-years-old.

The cause of death has not been released, although he reportedly died "peacefully," according to CNN.

The former king was responsible for introducing democracy to the South Pacific nation of Tonga following his ascension to the throne in 2006.

Crown Prince Tupouto's Lavaka, the king's younger brother and heir to the throne, was by his side when he died during his visit to Hong Kong Sunday. A government statement confirmed the death via local radio.

"Tonga has just woken up to the sad news of the passing of King George Tupou V," said Ministry of Information and Communication official Paula Ma'u, according to CNN.

"We are all in mourning," added the spokesperson.

Ma'u also said that the king had been traveling in Europe and elsewhere since late November and appeared healthy in photographs just weeks ago when he met the pope in the Vatican.

The spokesperson noted that the king leaves behind a daughter, but because she was born out of wedlock, has no claim to the throne.

A statement from the New Zealand government, which provides Tonga with major aid donations, said the leader would be long-remembered.

"He believed that the monarchy was an instrument of change and can be truly seen as the architect of evolving democracy in Tonga. This will be his enduring legacy," said Prime Minister John Key in a statement.

In 2008 Tapou V announced his change in the establishment of a constitutional monarchy and relinquished his near-absolute power that his family had for centuries. Thereafter, the prime minister was able to lead the government.

The King of Tonga studied at Oxford, and was known for his bachelorhood and eccentricities.

The archipelago Tonga consists of 171 islands and has a population of about 100,000.