The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are welcomed to Fiji
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attended a ceremony at Albert Park in Suva where the Prince was offered roast pig, a whale's tooth and traditional drink kava. / AP ...
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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attended a ceremony at Albert Park in Suva where the Prince was offered roast pig, a whale's tooth and traditional drink kava. / AP
NOW PLAYING • The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are welcomed to Fiji
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attended a ceremony at Albert Park in Suva where the Prince was offered roast pig, a whale's tooth and traditional drink kava. / AP ...
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex landed in Fiji for the second leg of their Pacific tour on Tuesday morning, following in the footsteps of the Queen and Prince Philip.
The couple, who flew from Hervey Bay, Australia, in a charter plane, will spend three days in the country, "experiencingthe rich Fijian culture and generous hospitality", the palace said.
Greeted by a Guard of Honour at Nausori Airport, Suva, the Duke inspected the guard of one hundred soldiers from the Fijian Army and Navy, and took the salute, the Daily Telegraph reports.
Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex take in the performances during the official welcome ceremony in Suva, Fiji. Photo / AP
The Duchess wore a long-sleeved dress by Australian label Zimmerman- despite tropical heat and in contrast to her outfits in Australia - sparking immediate speculation that she was covering herself up to protect her unborn baby from the threat of Zika-carrying mosquitoes.
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She paired the dress with a Stephen Jones hat, earrings that were a gift from the Queen and a bracelet that was a gift from the Prince of Wales.
She and Harry were met at Suva's Nausori Airport by Melanie Hopkins, the High Commissioner and chief of protocol, Jonetani Tagivetaua.
The pair left their Qantas charter flight to light rain and were introduced to the Hon Frank Bainamara, Fiji's Prime Minister and his wife, Maria, Ro Teimumu Kepa, leader of the opposition, Alessandro Truppia, the High Commissioner's wife and Rear Admiral Viliame Naupoto, commander of the RFMF.
Traditional fijian men carry roasted pig in Alberts Park ahead of the arrival of Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan. Photo / AP
The Duchess was presented with a bouquet of flowers by a flower girl from the chiefly island of Bau, the island home of Ratu Apensia Cakobau, who ceded Fiji to Britain in 1874 before the Duke made his way to a dais on the runway.
The Duke and Duchess observed a royal salute, and the Duke was then invited to inspect the guard of honour before the pair left for their next engagement, a meeting with Fiji's President, Jioji Konrote.
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attends the official welcome ceremony in Suva, Fiji. Photo / AP
As the couple's convoy left the airport, hundreds of wellwishers had lined the road out of the airport, waving flags and cheering.
Next, they moved to an official welcome ceremony in the city centre's Albert Park where tens of thousands of people are expected to attend.
Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attend an official welcome ceremony in Suva. Photo / AP
The ceremony, known as the Veirqaraqaravi Vakavanua, exactly mirrors one attended by the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh in 1953, and involves a number of traditional elements of Fijian culture, including the presentation of the Tabua, a Kava ceremony and a dance known as the Meke.
Harry gave a short speech thanking Fiji for their warm welcome, with The Sun's royal correspondent Emily Andrews reporting the crowd "went wild" when Harry greeted onlookers with "Bula".
The Duke of Sussex was also cheered when he drank kava, a local Fijian drink.
The red carpet almost blew away as Fiji Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama greeted Meghan, Duchess of Sussex in Fiji. Photo / AP
Members of the public have reportedly been allowed to leave work and school early in order to see the royal couple.
At the Grand Pacific Hotel, where the Duke and Duchess are staying, they are also expected to echo the programme of the Queen by waving to members of the public gathered around Albert Park from the balcony of the hotel.
Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex wave from a balcony as they arrive for an official dinner in Suva, Fiji. Photo / AP
On Tuesday night, they will attend a state dinner hosted by the President of Fiji, at which the Duke will give a speech.
A day later, the Duchess is due to embark on the key solo element of her tour programme, with a focus on women's empowerment.
