Clad in a saree, 25-year-old Fawzia Zullah lined up with young Fijians selected to be part of the Independence Day dinner with Prince Charles in 1970.

She never expected him to stop and converse with her at the Grand Pacific Hotel.

Queen Elizabeth had sent her 22-year-old son to represent the Royal Family as Fiji was given its Independence.

The day included a national ceremony at Albert Park, the formalities had been done.

The young Fawzia had been approached by her neighbour, Lavinia Ah Koy.

“Lavinia worked with the Parliament and had asked me if I wanted to be part of the dinner of young Fijians who were around Prince Charles’ age,” the now 75-year-old Ms Zullah recalled.

She was employed at the newly-opened World Health Organisation (WHO) in Suva. This would later go onto become the main hub of the United Nations body for the Pacific.

Ms Zullah was a Suva girl from Extension…to read more, subscribe to our e-edition.

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