ZCZC
BFF-37
TONGA-FIJI-BRITAIN-ROYALS-DIPLOMACY-CELEBRITY
Harry and Meghan’s island-hopping royal tour hits Tonga
NUKU’ALOFA, Tonga, Oct 25, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Prince Harry and Meghan’s tour
of the Pacific continued Thursday when the British royals arrived to a lavish
welcome in the island kingdom of Tonga, the region’s only monarchy.
After jetting in from Fiji, the couple were greeted at the airport by
Princess Angelika Latufuipeka and quickly departed for a private audience
with Tonga’s King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipau’u.
Meghan, who is pregnant with their first child, immediately won over
locals by wearing a bright red dress, the same colour as the Tongan flag.
Thousands of children, many wearing traditional ta’ovala mats around their
waists, lined the 13 kilometre (eight mile) route into the capital
Nuku’alofa, dancing and cheering as the royal motorcade passed.
Harry and his American-born wife then met Tonga’s rulers, whose royal
lineage stretches back 1,000 years, eclipsing Britain’s House of Windsor.
A reception featuring Tongan dance and culture followed, with the British
royals set to attend a string of engagements Friday before leaving after
spending less than 24 hours in the country.
Earlier, they wrapped up a three-day visit to Fiji when Harry unveiled a
statue to local war hero Talaiasi Labalaba at Nadi airport.
Labalaba, a sergeant in Britain’s elite SAS, held off more than 200
communist rebels in Oman in the 1972 Battle of Mirbat. He single-handedly
manoeuvred a field howitzer to engage the rebels and pounded them with
artillery rounds before being fatally shot as his colleagues tried to rescue
him.
Harry, who spent 10 years in the British military, praised the warm
welcome he and his wife had received in Fiji.
“We will leave with special memories of your beautiful country and look
forward to returning in the future,” he said.
Fiji President Jioji Konrote said he hoped to see the royal couple and
their child in the future.
“You go with the love and best wishes of every Fijian and especially as
you begin your own family with the arrival of your baby in the new year,” he
said.
“Thank you for gracing our shores during your short visit, it’s good to
know that you’ve promised to come back.”
The royals opened their tour with a week-long visit to Australia and will
return there briefly on Friday before ending the 16-day trip with a visit to
New Zealand.
BSS/AFP/MSY/1356 hrs