Royal couple’s Fiji visit most welcome news

Ever since the royal fairytale wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle last weekend there have been whispers in Fiji about a royal visit by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to our homeland.

Excitement has built up for the expected visit ever since Fijians joined millions around the world glued to their TV screens to watch their royal couple exchange their matrimonial vows at St George’s Chapel in Windsor, west of London.

Social media went viral with posts either congratulating the Prince and Meghan or comments of young women losing their first love, ‘Harry’.

This news is expected to keep Fiji abuzz in wonder. While many Fijians tweeted that the couple would visit Fiji soon, overseas media outlets have confirmed an October date.

Our very own Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama, who met the Prince in England during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) this year, is indeed excited.

The last Royal Visit was in 2006 by Princess Anne for a Save the Children Fund function and Prince Charles was here a year earlier for a two-day visit.

This would be a grand visit and Fijians would be more than happy to welcome the royal couple. This would be the couple’s first official visit to Fiji. And they visit not just as guests.

They visit a land once colonialised by the British, for whom Fijians still have an emotional and sentimental attachment. This is especially so in the case of the royal family.

One thing’s for sure.

The royal couple will be most welcome here.