As young royals Meghan Markle and Prince Harry prepare to visit Fiji as part of their royal tour, fascinating unseen images of the island’s tribal life more than 100 years ago have emerged.
A unique Edwardian photo album showing customs and culture in the former British colony in 1902 has been unearthed in London – and highlights the strong historical links between the two countries
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More than 80 black and white pictures depict village scenes and landscapes as well as natives, customs and culture. Fiji, a country in the South Pacific, is an archipelago of more than 300 islands famed for rugged landscapes, palm-lined beaches and coral reefs with clear lagoons.
Its charm and native people are captured in the images which show full-length portraits of Fijian warriors, the Fijian constabulary, Fijian girls, fish-spearing, drying vanilla, villagers dressed for dancing, rehearsing war and Fijians with clubs.
Several photographs are dated 1902 and there is an image of the Cook monument at Point Venus on fellow Pacific island Tahiti. The monument was built in 1901. The album also includes a ‘Panorama of Papeete Harbour’ in Tahiti made up of three separate photos.
The album, due to be auctioned at Hansons London on October 27 with an estimate of £1,200-£1,800 is expected to spark great interest enhanced by the fact that its sale coincides with the royal tour. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are due to visit Fiji on October 23-24.
Chris Kirkham, associate director of Hansons London, said: “These fascinating photos offer the duke and duchess an insight into the Fijian way of life a century ago just before they go there themselves.
“The pictures, which remind us of our colonial past, come from a private collection and will never have been seen before outside the vendor’s family.”
Meghan and Harry are currently enjoying a 76-engagement tour of commonwealth nations, their first royal tour as a married couple.
Prior to the tour, Kensington Palace said: “There is a long history of friendship between the royal family and Australia, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand, and their links with the UK are extensive.
“The duke and duchess are very much looking forward to experiencing the unique cultures and customs of those four Commonwealth countries and have asked that this tour allow them opportunities to meet as many Australians, Fijians, Tongans, and New Zealanders as possible.”
The Edwardian photograph album of Fiji people, customs and culture will be sold at the Saleroom, Normansfield Theatre, Teddington, 2A Langdon Park, Teddington, TW11 9PS, on October 27. Bid live at www.the-saleroom.com. To find our more, email [email protected] or call 020 8979 7954.
