Queen Elizabeth II’s cousin Princess Alexandra, is a working member of the Royal Family who visited Fiji in 1959.
She, according to the Royal Family, is a patron or president of about 100 organisations which reflects her wide ranging interest and she also supports the Queen in her duties, attending ceremonial occasions alongside other members of the Royal Family.
The Fiji Times shared the delight of covering the arrival of Princess Alexandra in August 14, 1959, as many Fijians waited patiently for the princess to arrive in Fiji before heading for her official visit to Australia.
Fijians were thrilled at the thought of just having a glimpse of the princess during her short visit. Princess Alexandra wore a straight frock with an overall floral pattern with rose pink and darker shades predominating.
The dress had no collar, and it featured a belted effect at the back.
It was the new shorter length frock.
She wore white shoes and gloves, but no hat.
Her hair was slightly bouffant, brushed under at the ends, this newspaper described.
The Princess sat in a rear seat in the Heron and waved to the Suva crowd as an elderly Fijian woman who sat on a low wall outside the Government Buildings from before daybreak smiled happily and moved away after the Royal car had passed.
She waved to about 100 until the aircraft moved off the tarmac to the Marsden matting runway.
This newspaper reported on August 15, on the scheduled time, the Heron piloted by captains Peter Frame and JD Washington was airborne.
The crowd waved while the aircraft climbed, banked to the right and flew out of sight to go to Nadi.
The princess arrived at Nadi Airport at 7.55am and the Governor Sir Kenneth Maddocks and Lady Maddocks flew to Nadi with her.
At 8.43am this newspaper reported that the princess left Fiji in a chartered Qantas Super Constellation on the final hop of her long journey to Australia. She was to be at Canberra.
“I wish your Royal Highness a safe and comfortable journey to Canberra and every success in the strenuous weeks ahead,” Governor Sir Kenneth Maddocks said in a message to the princess.
“Your brief visit to Fiji has given much pleasure and we all greatly hope that one day your Royal Highness will return here for a longer visit.”
From the plane the princess sent the governor a radio message.
“Thank you so much for your kind message.
“Please tell the people of Fiji how touched I have been by their very warm welcome to me and how deeply I appreciated their friendly greetings,” she said.
“I too am more than sorry that my stay among them had to be so short.”
The main purpose of her visit to Australia was to attend the Queensland centennial celebrations.
She was to also visit New South Wales and Victoria before returning to England.
Princess Alexandra (baptised Alexandra Helen Elizabeth Olga Christabel) according to the Royal Family official website is the second child and only daughter of the late Duke and Duchess of Kent.
Her father, who was brother to King George VI, was killed in a wartime flying accident in 1942 when Princess Alexandra was just five years old.
Her brothers are the present Duke of Kent and Prince Michael of Kent.
