Tonga's king has threatened to sue lawyers who are attempting to prevent him selling the royal residence in New Zealand.
Solicitors for King George Tupou V says the king will be seeking substantial damages if there is any attempt to interfere with the sale of the 1.6 hectare Atalanga estate in Auckland.
Tenders for the property, estimated to be worth up to seven million US dollars closed last Thursday, although no announcement has yet been made on whether a buyer has been selected.
The king's lawyer says Queen Salote Tupou personally bought the property in 1952 and there was nothing in the New Zealand land registry showing it was being held in trust for the Tongan government.
Joel Fotu, a New Zealand-based lawyer who attempted to place a caveat on the sale, says the threat to sue is unnecessary and will not prevent attempts to clarify the legal status of the property.