Charles may find Fiji has moved on

AUCKLAND - Once upon a time, until a few years ago, Fiji held an annual public holiday to mark Prince Charles' birthday, long after Britain had abandoned the celebration.

It was a quaint anachronism that a quiet corner of the Pacific clung to the tradition, even after Britain's royal family had lost much of its lustre.

Now the holiday has been dropped and, ahead of Prince Charles' fourth visit to the South Pacific nation, it seems Fiji's interest in the Queen's oldest son has also faded.

As a callow 21-year-old, the heir to the throne handed over the instruments of independence when Fiji in 1970 joined the cavalcade of colonies breaking away from Britain.

He came back four years later to mark the 100th anniversary of British colonisation and introduced Fijians to his young bride Princess Diana in 1985.

But then two military coups in 1987 spoiled the party and Fiji swore off royal visits by staying out of the Commonwealth for 10 years.

Shortly before his controversial marriage to Camilla Parker-Bowles, Charles returns to the islands on March 9-11 after visiting Australia and New Zealand.

"Our observation is that the news of the visit has been received well and is extremely positive," a spokeswoman at the British High Commission in Suva said.

However, letters to Fiji newspapers suggest locals are more preoccupied with the performance of the national rugby sevens team than the regal visit.

Rajend Naidu objected in the Fiji Times to the $F400,000 ($NZ341,546.84) being spent to host Charles and suggested a resort put him up for free instead but was brought to book by a fellow reader.

"We should not let any Commonwealth country point a finger at us for letting the prince visit Fiji like an ordinary tourist by staying at an island resort and then selling pictures of him to the overseas media like pop star Britney Spears," Sam Prasad wrote.

The visit is focused on the western side of the main island of Viti Levu, with Charles expected to meet the family of a Fijian soldier who died in Iraq while serving with Britain's Black Watch Regiment.

A traditional welcoming ceremony at a village hosted by the Fijian president will take place and the prince is scheduled to attend a military beating of the retreat, fittingly held at Nadi's Prince Charles Park.

The general public have so far been offered just one opportunity to greet the prince, at Nadi's airport just as he is leaving the country.

Before arriving in Fiji, Charles' four-day visit to New Zealand from March 5 will focus on the environment, agriculture and education.

In the South Island he is expected to check out albatross and penguin reserves and a merino sheep station before attending more formal functions in the capital Wellington.

Among engagements in Auckland, Charles will meet military personnel on base, visit a primary school and see a play about Pacific Islander migrants.

- AAP