Meghan Markle holds her growing baby bump as she arrives with Prince Harry for a Fiji state banquet in a stunning gown
The couple dressed up to the nines for the black tie dinner hosted by the country’s president at the Grand Pacific Hotel
MEGHAN Markle held her baby bump as she arrived with Prince Harry for a Fiji state banquet in a stunning gown today.
The royal couple dressed up to the nines for the black tie dinner hosted by the country’s president at the Grand Pacific Hotel.
The Duke of Sussex wore a tuxedo while the Duchess came decked out in a light blue dress by designer SAFiYAA.
The gorgeous gown features a cape silhouette and the colour is thought to be a nod to the host country, whose flag is the same shade.
The outfit, worn with diamond drop-earrings and her hair down, was by German-born London-based designer Daniela Karmuts.
The pair smiled as they chatted with other guests at the champagne reception ahead of the banquet.
Meghan earlier arrived in Fiji wearing a dress by Australian designer Zimmerman, a hat by Stephen Jones, earrings given to her by the Queen and a bracelet which was a gift from the Prince of Wales.
The pair were met at Suva's Nausori Airport by Melanie Hopkins, the High Commissioner and chief of protocol, Jonetani Tagivetaua.
They disembarked their Qantas charter flight to light rain and were introduced to the Hon Frank Bainamara, Fiji's PM and his wife, Maria, Ro Teimumu Kepa.
But everything didn't go quite as smoothly as they might have liked, with winds blowing the Duchess's hair across her face.
The red carpet even came close to taking off amid the strong gusts - but the royal couple appeared to laugh it off.
The Duchess was presented with a bouquet of flowers by a girl from the chiefly island of Bau, before Harry made his way to a dais on the runway.
Bau is the home of Ratu Apensia Cakobau, who ceded Fiji to Britain in 1874.
Harry and Meghan observed a royal salute, and the Duke was then invited to inspect the guard of honour.
The royal couple then left for their next engagement - a meeting with Fiji's President, Jioji Konrote - before heading to an official welcome ceremony.
The event took place at Albert Park, and mirrored the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh's visit in 1953.
Harry and Meghan were met by dozens of men in traditional garb, who performed a welcome dance and presented them with an entire roasted pig.
The Prince was also given a cup of traditional drink Kava, knocking it back and shouting "Bula!"
The word is a greeting and it's expected that he shout it as part of the ceremony.
The pair will spend four days in the South Pacific travelling on to Tonga later in the week.
Mum-to-be Meghan was back on official royal tour duty today after taking a break from official engagements.
Harry had attended three of yesterday's events on his own, including an unveiling of the Queen's Commonwealth Canopy, where he joked about plaque-unveiling running "in the family".
Harry had told his pregnant wife to take it easy as the couple carry out a 16-day tour across Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga.
A royal aide said: "She isn't sick, she just had a tiring few days.
"And we were concerned about the roads on the island which are incredibly bumpy and uncomfortable for anyone, let alone a pregnant woman.
"But the duchess was very keen to re-join the duke at the last engagement of the day to greet the people of the island."
As they left Australia, the couple were driven to Hervey Bay Airport, where Megan wore a loose fitting white shirt and black trousers.
Harry opted for a black shirt and chinos as they waved to a crowd of onlookers before boarding the plane.
On Thursday the parents to be will travel to the city of Nadi in Western Fiji.
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