The son of the late Ratu Sir George Cakobau (1912–1989), the former Vunivalu of Bau (Paramount Chief of Kubuna (1957–1989) and Governor-General of Fiji (1983-1983), he is also a great-great grandson of Seru Epenisa Cakobau, the warlord who established the first unified Fijian Kingdom in 1871 and ceded it to the United Kingdom in 1874.
Currently, there are four eligible contenders, namely Ratu George Cakobau, Jr., his brother Ratu Epenisa Cakobau, Ratu George Kadavulevu Naulivou, and former Vice-President Ratu Jope Seniloli.