Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are already proving popular in Fiji - hundreds of people lined the roads by the airport to greet the couple when they arrived yesterday, and they were treated to a full red-carpet greeting, complete with military salute and the national anthem.
However, Robin Nair, who was Fiji’s foreign affairs permanent secetary before he resigned last year has expressed concern that Prime Minster Frank Bainimarama will take ‘full advantage’ of the royal couple’s visit.
With the country’s elections - only the second since a military coup in 2006 - due to take place in less than three weeks time. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are expected to draw massive crowds wherever they go in Fiji, and there is concern that the ‘euphoria and joy created by the visit’ (Mr Nair’s words, not ours) will give the incumbent, Prime Minister Bainimarama plenty of photo opportunities where he can paint himself in a positive light.
Former government official Shailendra G Raju also criticized the visit in a Facebook post. In a letter addressed to the UK High Commissioner to Fiji, Mr Raju called for the visit to be 'postponed to a mutually convenient and more appropriate time'.
'Although not publicly,' he wrote. 'I am sure you would agree privately that the present Government has not provided a level playing field for an open and fair elections.’
It looks like the public in Fiji don’t share politicians concerns however, At one of the couple’s first public engagement in Fiji, hundreds of locals gathered in the rain to watch as the couple received a traditional ceremonial welcome.
Check out every outfit Meghan Markle has worn on the royal tour:
Meghan Markle Australia Tour Outfits - Grazia
1 of 31Day 1
For the first stop on the royal itinerary, Meghan chose a cream shift dress by Australian designer Karen Gee, paired with Princess Diana's butterfly earrings.
2 of 31Day 1
For an afternoon reception, the Duchess changed into a khaki shirt dress by US designer Brandon Maxwell, thought to be priced at £1,728.
3 of 31Day 2
For a Wednesday visit to the rural city of Dubbo, Meghan wore the 'Serena' Boss oversized blazer, designed by her friend Serena Williams (which costs $203, or £109) with a pair of black high-rise jeans by Australian brand The Outland, which cost $199, a Maison Kitsune button-down collar shirt for $75 and ankle boots by J.Crew, which cost $318.
4 of 31Day 3
For the third day of the tour on October 18 Harry and Meghan visited Melbourne, the Duchess wore the 'Folded Sail' Navy Dress by Dion Lee and Manolo Blahnik BB Pumps in Navy.
5 of 31Day 4
For her first outfit of day four, Meghan more a £1,080 Martin Grant Maxi Dress which is no longer available to buy, and a pair of Castaner Wedges which she kicked off to walk in the sand on Bondi Beach
6 of 31Day 4
For her second outfit of day four, the Duchess wore the 'Athena' Midi Dress by Roksanda, and a pair of Stuart Weitzman 'Legend' Pumps to visit Macarthur Girls School
7 of 31Day 5
For the opening of the enhanced Anzac Memorial Meghan wore a black Emilia Wickstead dress and a pillbox style hat by Philip Treacy.
8 of 31Day 5
In the afternoon of Day 5 Meghan changed into a white Altuzarra 'Acacia' blazer and black skinny jeans by LA label, Mother. She finished the look with Illesteva sunglasses and Tabitha Simmons 'Millie' heels.
9 of 31Day 6
For a lunchtime reception hosted by Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison Meghan wore a pinstriped white blazer by Californian brand L'Agence. She also wore her favourite Aquazzura Deneuve Bow Pumps and striped cross-body Orton bag.
10 of 31Day 6
Meghan and Prince Harry take in the sailing segment of the Invictus Games tournament. For this windswept occassion, Meghan wore a fashionable pair of Veja trainers, which likely marks one of the first occasions this royal has stepped out in public in sneakers. She paired the shoes with a pair of dark jeans, likely from Outland or Mother denim and an official merchandise jacket.
11 of 31Day 7
Meghan picked sustainable Los Angeles label Reformation's Pineapple dress for a walkabout visit of Fraser Island.
12 of 31Day 8
Meghan Markle left Australia wearing a white linen J Crew shirt (coming in at just £79.50), her Outland black skinny jeans, and Aquazurra DJ mules (£468).
13 of 31Day 8
The Duchess arrived in Fiji wearing white dress by Australian brand Stephen Zimmerman, with a matching white hat from Stephen Jones. She was also wearing a pair of earrings that were given to her by the Queen (and first seen when the pair visited Chester together) and a bracelet given to her by Prince Charles.
14 of 31Day 8
For her first state dinner at Fiji's Grand Hotel, the Duchess wore a caped gown by British label Safiyaa in Fijian blue, complete with earrings borrowed from the royal vaults. No tiara, though - that's because a state dinner is a black tie occasion (unlike a state banquet) and so tiaras are not required. Good to know.
15 of 31Day 9
For her second day in Fiji, the Duchess opted for a wrap dress in a floral print by Figue from Shopbop, paired with some Castaler espadrilles - and a traditional Fijian garland. She also carried a woven clutch bag, made by talented Fijian craftswomen as part of a UN initiative.
16 of 31Day 9
For Meghan and Harry's final evening in Fiji, the coupel met with the King of Tonga. The Duchess wore an ivory cap-sleeved beaded silk satin column dress by Theia with Birks earrings, Aquazzura pumps, a Givenchy clutch and an aquamarine ring that belonged to Princess Diana.
17 of 31Day 10
For a commemorative ceremony to remember a British-Fijian soldier, Sergeant Talaisasi Labalaba, which was attended by the President of Fiji, Meghan wore a Jason Wu sheath dress, Manolo Blahnik suede navy pumps, Pippa Small earrings and bangles with a Christian Dior satin clutch.
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18 of 31Day 10
Meghan stepped off the plane in Tonga in a custom scarlet Self-Portrait dress, Manolo Blahnik navy suede heels and a bespoke Christian Dior clutch.
19 of 31Day 11
For the unveiling of The Queen's Commonwealth Canopy at Tupou College Meghan wore a blue shirt dress by the American designer Veronica Beard.
20 of 31Day 11
In the evening Meghan wore a tulle Oscar De La Renta gown for the Australian Geographic Society Gala Awards in Sydney.
21 of 31Day 12
While attending the Wheelchair Basketball Final at the Invictus Games Meghan wore a wrap top by Australian designer Scanlan Theodore.
22 of 31Day 12
For the Invictus closing ceremony Meghan wore a khaki halter dress by Antonio Berardi.
23 of 31Day 13
As Meghan and Harry bid farewell to Australia the Duchess wore a BOSS by Hugo Boss dress with Aquazzura Casablanca heels and a Cuyana mini bag.
24 of 31Day 13
Meghan visits the Pukeahu National War Memorial Park in Wellington wearing an ASOS dress, plaid trench by Karen Walker and pumps by Sarah Flint.
25 of 31Day 14
Meghan wore Stella McCartney x Adidas Grosgrain-Trimmed Faux Leather Sneakers, black 'Harriet' skinny jeans by Outland Denim and a blue weatherproof jacket, suspected to be by Seasalt Cornwall, for a walk in Abel Tasman National Park, Wellington.
26 of 31Day 14
The royals visited Courtnay Creative in Wellington for an event celebrating the city's thriving arts scene. Meghan wore a white sleeveless blazer dress by Maggie Marilyn for the occasion.
27 of 31Day 15
Attending an event for the Queen's Commonwealth Canopy, Meghan wore J. Crew jeans paired with a Karen Walker blazer and a simple top from Lavender Hill Company.
28 of 31Day 15
Visiting the Pillars charity in Auckland, Meghan paired a custom cream shift dress from US designer Brandon Maxwell with her Burberry trench and Stuart Weitzman's 'Legend' pumps.
29 of 31Day 15
For a formal reception hosted by New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Meghan opted to re-wear the navy Antonio Berardi dress that she debuted back in 2017, at her first (albeit unofficial) public outing with Prince Harry.
30 of 31Day 16
Meghan paired a bespoke Stella McCartney dress with Manolo Blahnik pumps and Boh Ranga earrings to viist a Rotorua, a town central to Maori culture.
31 of 31Day 16
Meghan wore her beloved Manolo Blahnik pumps a bespoke Givenchy sweater and pleated skirt for the final day of the royal tour.