Queen Elizabeth II visits Fiji exhibition in Norwich

On what was her first public engagement of the year, the Queen Elizabeth II visited an exhibition about Fiji in the English town of Norwich, where she watched a performance by a Fijian choir and unveiled a plaque.

The Queen reminisced about her six visits to the island nation as she was greeted by Fiji's High Commissioner, Jitoko Tikolevu, who showed his respect by performing a traditional welcome.

After shaking her hand, he knelt down on one knee and clapped his hand three times.

Tikolevu explained that it is  a sign of respect for the Royal Family only, insisting that many Fijians still regarded her as their Queen even though the country became a republic in 1987.

Queen Elizabeth II arrived at the Sainsbury Centre at the University of East Anglia also  greeted by Fijian warriors and the sounds of traditional drumming, she was shown around Fiji: Art and Life in the Pacific, which aims to highlight the country’s art and culture since the 18th century with displays of sculptures, ceramics, weapons and clothing.

The exhibition also features footage of the Queen being given a whale tooth in Fiji in 1953.

It also included a traditional sailing canoe built for her 90th birthday celebrations at Windsor and mementos from her visits to the South Pacific nation.

She was presented with a box containing a photo album depicting her visits to Fiji and the exhibition.

Before she left she met Fijian students studying at the university and was treated to a traditional farewell song from the choir.

Fiji High Commissioner to Great Britian Jitoko Tikolevu says it was a song that the Queen knew well.

Fiji: Art and Life in the Pacific' is the largest and most comprehensive exhibition about Fiji ever assembled in the UK, including over 280 objects and works of art on loan from museums across the UK and from the Fiji Museum.