Market deemed risk for duchess
The Duchess of Sussex was rushed through her visit to an indoor market in Fiji’s capital over apparent concerns about the location’s security.
Meghan visited the Suva Market yesterday with the intention of meeting some of the female vendors who have been involved in the UN Women’s project Markets for Change.
Meghan chatted with one vendor and briefly greeted others at the market, where throngs of people spilled into surrounding streets.
She spent only about half of her allocated 15 minutes there as she was whisked through by security personnel in the enclosed and relatively dark market.
A Kensington Palace spokeswoman told The Associated Press that her visit was cut short because of crowd management issues.
Vendors were selling watermelons, pineapples and other fruit at the market, as well as handicrafts and fans.
Meghan, who is four months pregnant, and husband Prince Harry are on the ninth day of their 16-day tour of the South Pacific. Harry was not scheduled to visit the market, and was instead unveiling a plaque at a forest site home to species such as the Fiji tree frog.
Earlier yesterday, Meghan addressed students at Fiji’s University of the South Pacific and spoke of her ‘‘personal feeling of pride and excitement’’ when she studied for her degree.
She said she was only able to attend university thanks to scholarships, financial aid programmes and paid work on campus, but that it was, without question, worth the effort.
‘‘The journey of higher education is an incredible, impactful and pivotal one,’’ she said. ‘‘Everyone should be afforded the opportunity to receive the education they want, but more importantly the education they have the right to receive.
‘‘And for women and girls in developing countries, this is vital. Providing them with access to education is the key to economic and social development.
‘‘Because when girls are given the right tools to succeed, they can create incredible futures, not only for themselves but also for those around them.’’
The duchess announced two grants for the Fiji National University and the University of the South Pacific, allowing each of them to run workshops to empower their female staff.
‘‘This means that female faculty members are able to encourage others to follow in their footsteps and enter higher education, and that more women become part of the decisionmaking process in academic institutions,’’ she said.
Earlier the Duke of Sussex laid a wreath of poppies in honour of Fijian war veterans during a solemn ceremony.
Harry was without Megan for his first engagement of the day in which he spoke with veterans, including a number who had served with the British Armed Forces.
The couple are scheduled to visit Tonga today before returning to Sydney tomorrow night for the final days of the Invictus Games, Harry’s brainchild and the focus of their tour. The couple will then finish their trip with a four-day visit to New Zealand. – AP, AAP, PA
‘‘The journey of higher education is an incredible, impactful and pivotal one.’’ Duchess of Sussex