He’s Upset by King-Sized Misspellings

I read Liz Mullen’s “Postscript” feature story about the opening of a protocol office in Orange County (April 22) with much interest. Such an institution here is much needed and long overdue considering the number of foreign dignitaries who visit.

I would hope, however, that the misspelling and improper shortening of the king of Tonga’s name and title in the first reference in Mullen’s story was not a reflection of the standards of that new and hopefully excellent office.

His majesty’s name and title as it should have appeared is: King Taufa’ahou Tupou IV and not King Topou IV, as The Times printed it. His wife’s name is Queen Halaevalu Mata’aho and not Queen Mata’Aho, as you reported.

If you must shorten royal titles with American journalistic flippancy, at least accord such personages the respect of spelling what portions of their names you choose correctly.

Developing Third World island nations of the Pacific may be small and of little economic significance to the world, but they are each serious political and economic entities and deserve the same careful, respectful handling in print and in person as do their larger counterparts in all ranks.

MEL KERNAHAN

Newport Beach