Families Excited About Harry, Meghan Arrival
From her home at Luvuluvu Road, Nausori, Sangeet Kaur Singh has seen many important visitors to Fiji arrive and leave.
But it is the arrival this afternoon of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and wife Meghan, that has her excited as ever.
With her home located at the entrance of Nausori International Airport, Mrs Singh and her family do not have to leave their home to get front row view of the arrival of the chartered royal plane and the couple's motorcade.
Mrs Singh, 46, said the first time she caught a glimpse of members of the royal household was on October 26, 1985, when the late Princess Diana made an hour-long stopover in Fiji with her then husband Prince Charles.
She clearly recalls travelling to the Nadi International Airport to see the late Princess of Wales and mother of the visiting Duke of Sussex Prince Harry.
“We are looking forward to the arrival of Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle tomorrow (today). Every time a member of the royal family or a delegate comes we always look forward to it,” she said.
The first diplomatic visit that Mrs Singh witnessed was in September 1981 when the former Prime Minister of India Mrs Indira Gandhi visited our shores. Thirty-three years later on November 19, 2014, she saw the current Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi as he was escorted from the Nausori Airport shortly after his arrival in Fiji. “Last time Narendra Modi came, our house was full, there were people here awaiting the visit,” Mrs Singh said.
This royal couple is the talk of the town especially when we have heard the good news.” A few blocks down the road Delta Shop owner Arvind Lal, 43, is also excited about the royal visit.
Sharing his anticipation with the Fiji Sun, Mr Lal said he would close his Verata home and take his whole family to his shop so that they can have a chance to see the royal couple, even if it only means waving at the motorcade as they drive past Luvuluvu Road. “We have been renting this shop for one year and six months and this is the first time I am witnessing a royal visit,” Pratima Lal said.
"We are all looking forward to standing by the roadside at half past four tomorrow (today) to see them
“Hopefully they stop to say hello to us.” From the airport the royal couple will be transported to Albert Park where the traditional welcoming ceremony will take place from 6pm to 6.45pm.
Day One of the royal visit will culminate with a State dinner hosted by the President Major-General (Ret'd) Jioji Konrote and the First Lady at the Grand Pacific Hotel