Toga in Tonga! Duchess dazzles in Greek goddess-inspired silk gown at evening reception with Harry to meet the island’s king and queen – and they are serenaded by band playing John Lennon’s Imagine
- Harry and Meghan visited Nuku’alofa for a private audience with King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipauʻu
- Afterwards they attended an official Reception and Dinner, followed by traditional Tongan entertainment
- Meghan’s dress is said by designer Theia Couture to ‘use Greek goddess Theia as a source of inspiration’
The Duchess of Sussex dazzled in her third outfit of the day with a Greek-inspired look as she dined with the King of Tonga tonight – arriving to a band playing Imagine by John Lennon.
Hours after arriving on the South Pacific island, Prince Harry and Meghan visited Consular House in central Nuku’alofa for a private audience with His Majesty King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipauʻu.
Afterwards they attended an official Reception and Dinner, followed by traditional Tongan entertainment. The pregnant Duchess was wearing an elegant white full-length evening dress by Theia Couture.
The dress, described as a ‘cap sleeve beaded silk satin column gown’, is said by the designer to ‘use the Greek goddess Theia as a source of inspiration’ and was embellished with beading and embroideries.
The visit – which saw Meghan advised to ‘take care of herself’ when she met a Russian doctor – is the most remote part of the couple’s 16-day tour, which also includes Australia, Fiji and New Zealand.
Harry and Meghan arrived at Consular House in Nuku’alofa for a private audience with King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipau’u
Harry and Meghan, wearing a white dress, arrived to the ceremony as a band played Imagine by John Lennon
In the evening after their arrival, the couple were driven to Consular House for an audience with King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipau’u before a reception and dinner.
At the reception they met an array of dignitaries, including Justice Charles Cato, a New Zealand judge and his Russian wife Miriam.
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Mrs Cato said: ‘I asked, how does she feel? She responded, ‘Very well, thank you.’ I said, ‘No visible signs yet!’
That prompted the duchess, who was wearing a dress by Theia, to look down at front of her dress and laugh in agreement.
Mrs Cato, 41, added: ‘As a doctor I was a bit concerned to about her taking all these long trips. I’m a mother of two. I know how it feels. I asked her to take care of herself. She promised to do so.’
The couple are attending an official reception and dinner in Tonga this evening, featuring traditional entertainment
The dress worn by Meghan in Tonga today is said by the designer to ‘use the Greek goddess Theia as a source of inspiration’
Pregnancy also came up in the conversation when the couple met Melenaite Tangi, 72, who recalled meeting Charles and Diana at a garden party in Auckland during the couple’s tour of New Zealand in 1983.
‘1983?’ replied Harry. ‘That’s the year before I was born. Was she pregnant? Secretly?’
The couple met an array of government ministers at the reception, including the environment minister. Harry told him that he was ‘a very important man’ as he and Meghan discussed with him the effect of global warming on sea levels.
He told the education minister: ‘Thank you for giving the schoolchildren the day off, to line the street from the airport. It was very nice to see so many Tongan flags.’
They also met a Japanese couple, prompting a conversation about the forthcoming rugby world cup in Japan. The duke said: ‘I am looking forward to the world cup. I hope Japan gets to the final, or even wins. After all, they beat South Africa four years ago.’
The Duchess of Sussex made a minor fashion faux pas when she arrived in Tonga wearing a striking red dress
Meghan Markle had the label still hanging from her red Self Portrait dress as she walked along a red carpet following her arrival in Tonga
Meghan looked radiant in a red Self Portrait dress and black heels, holding hands with Prince Harry as they landed following their flight from Fiji
The reception was followed by a dinner hosted by the king and queen. The king, who succeeded to the throne after the death of his brother, King George Tupou V, was educated in Britain and served in the Tongan Naval Forces before taking on a succession of government roles, including prime minister.
Earlier in the day she had worn a green Jason Wu dress for her last engagement in Fiji and a red Self Portrait number for her arrival in the Tongan capital, which mirrored the country’s national flag.
They arrived in the Pacific nation today 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.
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.
The Duchess of Sussex attended the unveiling of a statue in honour of Sergeant Talaiasi Labalaba in Nadi, Fiji
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.
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. Sgt Labalaba was posthumously mentioned in dispatches for his bravery in battle.
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.’
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