Prince Harry downs local brew on 'nostalgic' Fiji trip with Meghan

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are following in the footsteps of the Queen and Prince Philip as they flew into Fiji to experience Pacific Island life.

On the next stop of their first major tour, the royal couple were greeted by a striking display of Fijian culture.

Crowds of people lined the roads to see their motorcade, with 20,000 people packing into Albert Park to watch their official welcome in capital city Suva.

They took part in the same traditional ceremony that was witnessed by the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh when they first came to Fiji 65 years ago on her coronation Commonwealth tour.

As the rain poured, Prince Harry and Meghan watched a traditional ceremony known as veiqaravi vakavanua with dance performances and a ceremony where Prince Harry was offered Fiji's national drink, kava, served in a coconut shell.

Made from the root of the kava plant, it's known to have a mildly sedative effect.

The root is ground down into a fine powder before being mixed with water.

It looks a bit like muddy rainwater, and has a particularly bitter taste. Turning it down is considered an insult to Fijians.

But Harry took it in his stride and downed the bowl before clapping three times as part of the ceremony.

They were also offered a whale's tooth, the equivalent of the keys to the city.

The palace said that Harry and Meghan were looking forward to experiencing the rich Fijian culture and generous hospitality.

But the couple also have important diplomatic work to do.

This part of the tour was requested by the Foreign Office and while these trips are non-political, the royals are regarded as having an important role in maintaining bilateral relations with other Commonwealth countries.

It will be Meghan's first serious diplomatic test, and first lesson in how to deploy those skills in "soft power".

Sky News has been told that on this part of the tour they will be joined by Sir David Manning, former diplomat and now foreign affairs adviser to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

With an election due in Fiji next month, he will be on hand to advise them on the political sensitivities.

Later in the evening, Meghan went to her first state dinner hosted by the president of Fiji at the Grand Pacific Hotel, another first for this new duchess.

Speaking at the event, Prince Harry said: "This visit is particularly nostalgic for us as a young married couple - my grandparents stayed in this very hotel, the Grand Pacific, a number of times over the years.

"But this visit is also an opportunity to learn more about the future of Fiji, your economic growth, sustainable tourism development and social enterprises".

When the Queen visited Fiji in 1953 it was still a British colony.

The country declared independence in 1970 but still has the Union Jack on its flag and remains a member of the Commonwealth.

As head of the Commonwealth, the body of 53 nations remains an important focus for Her Majesty and her family.

The Queen made Prince Harry a Commonwealth youth ambassador before he got married.

With his grandmother no longer doing long-haul travel it is up to younger members to help maintain the traditional ties.