World leaders visit our shores
STATE visits are considered to be the highest expression of friendly bilateral relations between two sovereign states
For some of us trips by world leaders to our shore is something most of would always cherish for instance when Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip visit Fiji in 1977 or for some it would be when the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle set foot to our shores for the first time.
The Queen and her family have been visiting Fiji since the 1920s.
The then-Duke and Duchess of York (King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother), visit Fiji in 1927.
Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth visited Fiji for the first time in 1953 this was during her coronation tour in 1953.
She has visited Fiji six times during her reign; in 1953, 1963, 1970, 1973, 1977 and 1982.
In 1977, Prince Philip accompanied her during a visit to Fiji.
The royal couple were in Fiji from February 16-17, 1977 as part of the silver jubilee celebrations of her accession to the British throne. The Fiji Times on February 18, 1977 reported the Queen praising Fiji's rapid development since the last time she visited in 1953.
“During a banquet dinner held in her honour in Suva, the Queen told the 300 guests present that Fiji was the first Pacific country she had seen in 1953.
“Although it is nearly a quarter of a century ago I remember as if it were yesterday the sight of these beautiful islands as we made our first landfall since leaving Panama and sailed into Suva bay," she said.
Prince Charles and Princess Diana
Prince Charles with Princess Diana in October 1985.
They stopped in Fiji to refuel en route to Australia and managed to squeeze in a brief engagement.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
The Duke and Dutchess of Sussex Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were in the country on October 23rd to October 25th.
The tour around the Pacific focuses "youth leadership, and projects being undertaken by young people to address the social, economic, and environmental challenges of the region," according to a Palace press release.
The royal couple were in the country for three days.