In Royal weather, brilliant sunshine and an almost cloudless sky, her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother stepped from her airliner into a colourful scene at Nadi Airport.
The story of her arrival in Fiji was published by this newspaper on Tuesday March 22, 1966.
“The bright scarlet tunies and white sulus of a guard of honour mounted by the Fiji Infantry Regiment and the blue and white of the Fiji Police Band contrasted well,” The Fiji Times reported.
“The guard and the band set the keynote with a display of military precision.”
In the background was a big crowd, orderly and restrained but eager for a glimpse of the Queen Mother.
It was entirely in keeping with Fiji’s traditions that the welcoming crowd was almost silent.
“No true Fijian would nosily acclaim a high chief – and the mother of the Sovereign is a very high chief. People of other races respect the Fijian custom on Royal occasions.”
Promptly at the expected time of 9:30am, the Royal airliner, the Qantas V-jet City of Adelaide came to rest.
Her Majesty was greeted by the Governor, Sir Derek Jakeway and Lady Jakeway at the foot of the gangway.
The Queen Mother wore a dress of jade and mauve printed gauze, a hat of jade tulle with mauve ostrich feathers and long white gloves.
She wore a pearl necklace, offset with a diamond brooch and earrings, and carried a buff parasol and white handbag.
The Governor’s ADC (Lieutenant I Duthie) was then presented to her Majesty after which the daughter of the Tui Vuda (Varanisese Tavaiqia), wearing a Fijian costume with a blouse of white masi fringed with fine fern and red ginger, presented the Queen Mother with a bouquet of stephanotis, Cecil Brunner roses and pink anthuriums with a small orchid in the centre.
