Madhavan Tells How Prince Charles Stopped in his Tracks to Speak to Him
Seventy-two year- old Vijay Madhavan will never forget attending the Independence Day celebratory dinner at the
Grand Pacific Hotel in 1970.
He was 22-years-old at the time and had accompanied his wife to the dinner.
She was one of Ratu Edward Cakobau’s secretaries.
“I was one of the lucky ones to be present at the dinner that night and at the table that we were sitting in, I had my back to the entrance where he (Prince Charles) entered,” Mr Madhavan said.
Young Mr Madhavan had just joined International Business Machines (IBM) Corporation a year earlier as a Computer Operator.
He was sharing his work experience with those at the table when Prince Charles entered.
“After the formalities at the Albert Park he walked across to the GPH where all the guests were waiting,” he said.
“As he passed our table someone asked me what profession I was in. I responded that I had just joined IBM, a computer company.”
Mr Madhavan said Prince Charles overheard the conversation, stopped, turned to him and said: “Computers, how exciting!”
Prince Charles then chatted with those at the table for a bit before he made his way to the head table.
“It was such an unforgettable experience for me.”
He said everyone was excited to be at the dinner especially in the same room as a member of the royal family.
The retiree say, 50 years on Fiji has come a long way with the current government at the helm.
Mr Madhavan is also the president of the Fiji Senior Golfers Association.
He is also a regular contributor writer for our letters section.