Meghan wows in red dress as royal couple land in Tonga

Updated

The Duchess of Sussex donned the red of Tonga as she and her husband arrived in the Pacific nation for the latest leg of their tour.

Harry and Meghan left Nadi in western Fiji on a Qantas charter plane for Tonga, and were met at Fua'amotu Airport by Princess Angelika Latufuipeka.

The royal couple then walked the red carpet, accompanied by traditional entertainment from Pelehake villagers.

Meghan was wearing a red dress by Self-Portrait
Meghan was wearing a red dress by Self-Portrait

Schoolchildren had been given the day off and lined the streets from the airport to the capital of Nuku'alofa, waving flags and cheering as the convoy made the 40-minute journey.

Harry and Meghan will attend an evening reception with traditional entertainment hosted by King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipau'u Tuku'aho on Thursday night.

Earlier in the day, before leaving Fiji, the duke unveiled a memorial for a British-Fijian soldier who died at the Battle of Mirbat.

Sergeant Talaiasi Labalaba, of the Special Air Service (SAS), single-handedly held off 250 insurgents with a 25-pounder field gun after being shot in the jaw during the battle in Oman in 1972.

A warm welcome for The Duke and Duchess of Sussex at the start of #RoyalVisitTonga🇹🇴! pic.twitter.com/NYHaF3Dbp1

— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) October 25, 2018

He was part of a nine-strong SAS team based outside Mirbat when they were attacked by the Popular Front for the Liberation of the Occupied Arabian Gulf (PFLOAG).

Sgt Labalaba was posthumously mentioned in dispatches for his bravery in battle.

After the ceremony, the President of Fiji, Major General Jioji Konrote, gave a short speech thanking the royal couple for their visit and congratulating them on their baby news.

"Thank you for coming to Fiji and gracing us with your much welcome but very short visit," he said. "It's good to know that you promise to come back. May Almighty God be with you now and in the future."

Harry also gave a speech, beginning with the traditional Fijian greeting 'Bula', and adding: "Thank you to the people of Fiji for the warm welcome we have received during our visit. The duchess and I are leaving with special memories of your beautiful country and look forward to returning in the future."

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