• Meghan Markle, Britain's Duchess of Sussex, attends a ceremony at Nadi airport in Fiji. Reuters
    Meghan Markle, Britain's Duchess of Sussex, attends a ceremony at Nadi airport in Fiji. Reuters
  • Meghan smiles beside Fiji's Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama. AFP
    Meghan smiles beside Fiji's Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama. AFP
  • Prince Harry receives a whale tooth necklace. Reuters
    Prince Harry receives a whale tooth necklace. Reuters
  • Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex react before boarding their flight to Tonga. AP Photo
    Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex react before boarding their flight to Tonga. AP Photo
  • Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, attend a ceremony at Nadi airport. Reuters
    Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, attend a ceremony at Nadi airport. Reuters
  • Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, attend a ceremony at Nadi airport. Reuters
    Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, attend a ceremony at Nadi airport. Reuters
  • Earlier in Fiji, the royal couple visit the University of the South Pacific in Suva. Getty Images
    Earlier in Fiji, the royal couple visit the University of the South Pacific in Suva. Getty Images
  • Fijian well-wishers.
    Fijian well-wishers.
  • A man offers a bowl of kava to the royal couple. Reuters.
    A man offers a bowl of kava to the royal couple. Reuters.
  • Britain's Prince Harry and Fiji's President Jioji Konrote stand in front of a new statue commemorating Sergeant Talaiasi Labalaba, a British-Fijian soldier who lost his life in the 1972 Battle of Mirbat. Reuters
    Britain's Prince Harry and Fiji's President Jioji Konrote stand in front of a new statue commemorating Sergeant Talaiasi Labalaba, a British-Fijian soldier who lost his life in the 1972 Battle of Mirbat. Reuters
  • Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, flanked by Tonga's Princess Angelika Latufuipeka, arrive at Fua'amotu airport on the main island Tongatapu in Tonga. Reuters
    Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, flanked by Tonga's Princess Angelika Latufuipeka, arrive at Fua'amotu airport on the main island Tongatapu in Tonga. Reuters
  • Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, arrive at Fua'amotu airport on the main island Tongatapu in Tonga October 25, 2018. REUTERS/Phil Noble
    Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, arrive at Fua'amotu airport on the main island Tongatapu in Tonga October 25, 2018. REUTERS/Phil Noble
  • Dancers greet Meghan and Harry in Tonga. Getty Images
    Dancers greet Meghan and Harry in Tonga. Getty Images

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry honour 'Fijian Rambo' - in pictures


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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex unveiled a statue in Fiji to honour Sgt Talaiasi Labalaba, a British-Fijian war hero who died fighting the Dhofar Rebellion in Oman.

Labalaba, a member of Britain's elite Special Air Service, was killed in 1972 during the Battle of Mirbat in Oman.

He helped save other soldiers from the rebels backed by Yemeni communist insurgents by single-handedly firing a 25-pound heavy gun that usually took several soldiers to operate.

He continued for more than two hours, even after his jaw was shot off, before he was eventually shot and killed. His heroics were not widely known until recently because the British were not officially involved in the conflict.

Afterwards, the British royals arrived Thursday on the Island of Tonga, where people gathered at the airport to welcome them wearing traditional outfits, playing guitars and singing.

Prince Harry and Meghan were greeted by Princess Angelika Latufuipeka.

  • Britain's Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex arrive at Fua'amotu airport in Tonga.. AFP
    Britain's Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex arrive at Fua'amotu airport in Tonga.. AFP
  • Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, arrive at Fua'amotu airport on the main island Tongatapu in Tonga. REUTERS
    Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, arrive at Fua'amotu airport on the main island Tongatapu in Tonga. REUTERS
  • The royal couple are on the 10th day of their 16-day tour of Australia and the South Pacific. AP Photo
    The royal couple are on the 10th day of their 16-day tour of Australia and the South Pacific. AP Photo
  • Tongans greet the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Getty Images
    Tongans greet the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Getty Images
  • Locals greet the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Getty Images
    Locals greet the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Getty Images
  • Crowds line the streets. Getty Images
    Crowds line the streets. Getty Images
  • Prince Harry and Meghan Getty Images
    Prince Harry and Meghan Getty Images
  • The royal couple were welcomed by musicians.Getty Images
    The royal couple were welcomed by musicians.Getty Images
  • Nuku'alofa thronged with well-wishers. Getty Images
    Nuku'alofa thronged with well-wishers. Getty Images
  • Tongan school children wave flags along the procession. Getty Images
    Tongan school children wave flags along the procession. Getty Images
  • Locals greet the Duke and Duchess of Sussex as they arrive at Fua'amotu Airport in Nuku'alofa, Tonga. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are on their official 16-day Autumn tour visiting cities in Australia, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand. Getty Images
    Locals greet the Duke and Duchess of Sussex as they arrive at Fua'amotu Airport in Nuku'alofa, Tonga. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are on their official 16-day Autumn tour visiting cities in Australia, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand. Getty Images
  • Locals greet the Duke and Duchess of Sussex as they arrive at Fua'amotu Airport in Nuku'alofa, Tonga. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are on their official 16-day Autumn tour visiting cities in Australia, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand. Getty Images
    Locals greet the Duke and Duchess of Sussex as they arrive at Fua'amotu Airport in Nuku'alofa, Tonga. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are on their official 16-day Autumn tour visiting cities in Australia, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand. Getty Images
  • A girl holds a Union Jack flag as she cheers for Britain's Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex as their convoy from Fua'amotu airport in Tonga passes by. Prince Harry and his pregnant wife Meghan left Fiji after a three-day official visit and arrived in Tonga as part of their tour of Australia and the South Pacific. AFP
    A girl holds a Union Jack flag as she cheers for Britain's Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex as their convoy from Fua'amotu airport in Tonga passes by. Prince Harry and his pregnant wife Meghan left Fiji after a three-day official visit and arrived in Tonga as part of their tour of Australia and the South Pacific. AFP
  • People cheer for Britain's Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex as their convoy from Fua'amotu airport in Tonga passes by. Prince Harry and his pregnant wife Meghan left Fiji after a three-day official visit and arrived in Tonga as part of their tour of Australia and the South Pacific. AFP
    People cheer for Britain's Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex as their convoy from Fua'amotu airport in Tonga passes by. Prince Harry and his pregnant wife Meghan left Fiji after a three-day official visit and arrived in Tonga as part of their tour of Australia and the South Pacific. AFP

They were later scheduled to meet with Tonga's king and queen and to attend a reception and dinner featuring traditional Tongan entertainment.

Meghan stepped off the plane wearing a red dress while Harry wore a light beige suit.

The couple is on the 10th day of a 16-day tour of the South Pacific that has already taken in Australia. They will end their tour with four days in New Zealand.

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